Proteases

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to proteases of high specific activity homologous to proteases derived from  Nocardiopsis , and the production thereof by the wild-type, and in recombinant host cells including transgenic plants and non-human transgenic animals. The proteases are effective in animal feed, and detergents. Characteristic structural features of relevance for the specific activity of these proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority or the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 of Danish application nos. PA 2003 00913 filed Jun. 19, 2003, PA 2003 01492 filed Oct. 10, 2003, and PA 2003 00332 filed Mar. 1, 2004, and U.S. provisional application Nos. 60/480,024 filed Jun. 20, 2003, 60/510,411 filed Oct. 10, 2003, and 60/549,349 filed Mar. 2, 2004, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having protease activity and being homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, as well as isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding it. The invention furthermore relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells, including transgenic plants and non-human animals, comprising these nucleic acid sequences, as well as methods for producing and using the protease, in particular within animal feed.

The protease of the invention has a high specific activity. Characteristic structural features of relevance for the high specific activity of proteases of peptidase family S2A or S1E are disclosed.

Proteases derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262 and Nocardiopsis dassonvillei NRRL 18133 are disclosed in WO 88/03947. The DNA and amino acid sequences of the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262 are shown in DK application no. 1996 00013. WO 01/58276 discloses the use in animal feed of acid-stable proteases related to the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262, as well as a protease derived from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 14010. These proteases, however, have a low specific activity.

JP 2-255081-A discloses a protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. strain OPC-210 (FERM P-10508), however without sequence information. The strain is no longer available, as the deposit was withdrawn.

DD 200432|8 discloses a proteolytic preparation derived from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei strain ZIMET 43647, however without sequence information. The strain appears to be no longer available.

JP 2003284571-A, published after the first filing date of the present invention, discloses the amino acid sequence and the corresponding DNA sequence of a protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. TOA-1 (FERM P-18676). The sequence has been entered in GENESEQP with no. ADF43564.

The most homologous prior art protease which is not a Nocardiopsis protease is SapII_(—) Streptomyces_sptrembl_q55353, the mature part of which has an amino acid identity of 61.5%, and 63.5%, respectively, to the mature parts of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 6, respectively. The corresponding DNA identities are 70.3%, and 72.7%, to SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5, respectively. The mature part of a related Streptomyces protease, viz. SapII_(—) Streptomyces_sp_sptrembl_q55352 has a slightly higher percentage identity to the mature part of SEQ ID NO: 1, viz. 70.8%.

It is an object of the present invention to provide proteases of a high specific activity homologous to Nocardiopsis proteases, in particular with a potential for use in animal feed and/or detergents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proteases of high specific activity were isolated and characterized, viz. a protease derived from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 (see SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2), and a protease derived from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235 (see SEQ ID NOs: 5 and 6).

In a first aspect, the invention relates to an isolated polypeptide having protease activity, and having a specific activity on haemoglobin at pH 7.5 and 25° C. of at least 39 AU/g, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or to amino acids 1-192 of SEQ ID NO: 6, of at least 65%; (b) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under low stringency conditions with nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which has a degree of identity to nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, of at least 74%. The invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding such proteases; nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences; as well as methods for producing and using the proteases, in particular within animal feed.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to:

-   A. An isolated polypeptide of peptidase family S2A and/or peptidase     family S1E having protease activity and having an amino sequence     comprising at least one of the following amino acids at the position     indicated: 25S, 38T, 42P, 44S, 49Q, 54R, 62S, 89S, 91S, 92S, 95A,     99Q,100I, 114V, 120T, 125Q, 129Q, 131L, 135N, 147F, 151S, 165S,     166F, 171Y, 176N, 179L, 180S, 184L, and/or 185T; preferably 25S,     38T, 42P, 44S, 54R, 62S, 125Q, 131L, 165S, 171Y, 176N, 179L, 180S,     184L, and/or 185T; more preferably together with at least one of     24A, 51V, 53E, 86A, 87T, 96I, and/or 186L; and/or together with     (H35+D61+S143); wherein each position corresponds to a position of     SEQ ID NO: 2. -   B. The polypeptide of A which comprises at least one of the     following amino acids at the position indicated: 38T, 92S, 120T,     125Q, 131L, 135N, 147F, 151S, 165S, and/or 171Y. -   C. The polypeptide of A which comprises at least one of the     following amino acids at the position indicated: 25S, 42P, 44S, 49Q,     54R, 62S, 89S, 91S, 95A, 99Q, 100I, 114V, 129Q, 166F, 176N, 179L,     180S, 184L, and/or 185T. -   D. The polypeptide of any one of A, B, or C, which has a Tm of at     least 78° C. as measured by DSC in 10 mM sodium phosphate, 50 mM     sodium chloride, pH 7.0; a relative activity at pH9 and 80° C. of at     least 0.40; and/or a specific activity on haemoglobin at pH 7.5 and     25° C. of at least 39 AU/g. -   E. The polypeptide of any one of A, B, C, or D, which has a     percentage of identity to amino acids −167 to 188, preferably 1 to     188, of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or to amino acids −160 to 192, preferably     1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6 of at least 65%, more preferably a percentage     of identity to amino acids 1-188, or 167 to 188, of SEQ ID NO: 2 of     at least 50%. -   F. The polypeptide of any one of A, B, C, D, or E, which is i) a     bacterial protease; ii) a protease of the phylum     Actinobacteria; iii) of the class Actinobacteria; iv) of the order     Actinomycetales v) of the family Nocardiopsaceae; vi) of the genus     Nocardiopsis; and/or a protease derived from vii) Nocardiopsis     species such as Nocardiopsis alba, Nocardiopsis antarctica,     Nocardiopsis prasina, Nocardiopsis composta, Nocardiopsis exhalans,     Nocardiopsis halophila, Nocardiopsis halotolerans, Nocardiopsis     kunsanensis, Nocardiopsis listeri, Nocardiopsis lucentensis,     Nocardiopsis metallicus, Nocardiopsis synnemataformans, Nocardiopsis     trehalosi, Nocardiopsis tropica, Nocardiopsis umidischolae,     Nocardiopsis xinjiangensis, or Nocardiopsis dassonvillei; and,     optionally, also from Nocardiopsis alkaliphila, e.g. a protease     derived from Nocardiopsis alba, for example Nocardiopsis alba DSM     15647, or a protease derived from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei, for     example Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235,     such as a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of amino acids     −167 to 188, preferably 1-188,- of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or amino acids     -160 to 192, preferably 1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6. -   G. An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid     sequence which encodes the polypeptide of any one of A, B, C, D, E,     or F. -   H. A nucleic acid construct comprising the nucleic acid sequence of     G operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the     production of the polypeptide in a suitable expression host. -   I. A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid     construct of H. -   J. A recombinant host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of     H or the vector of I. -   K. A method for producing a polypeptide of any one A, B, C, D, E, or     F, the method comprising: (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell of     K to produce a supernatant comprising the polypeptide; and (b)     recovering the polypeptide. -   L. A transgenic plant, or plant part, capable of expressing the     polypeptide of any one of A, B, C, D, E,or F. -   M. A transgenic, non-human animal, or products, or elements thereof,     being capable of expressing the polypeptide of any one of A, B, C,     D, E, or F. -   N. Use of at least one polypeptide as defined in any one of A, B, C,     D, E, or F, (i) in animal feed; (ii) in the preparation of a     composition for use in animal feed; (iii) for improving the     nutritional value of an animal feed; (iv) for increasing digestible     and/or soluble protein in animal diets; (v) for increasing the     degree of hydrolysis of proteins in animal diets; and/or (vi) for     the treatment of proteins. -   O. An animal feed additive comprising at least one polypeptide as     defined in any one of A, B, C, D, E, or F; and (a) at least one     fat-soluble vitamin, and/or (b) at least one water-soluble vitamin,     and/or (c) at least one trace mineral. -   P. An animal feed composition having a crude protein content of 50     to 800 g/kg and comprising at least one polypeptide as defined in     any one of A, B, C, D, E, or F, or at least one feed additive of O. -   Q. A composition comprising at least one polypeptide as defined in     any one of A, B, C, D, E, or F, together with at least one other     enzyme selected from amongst alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), phytase (EC     3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26); xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC     3.2.1.89); alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4.−.−),     phospholipase A1(EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4);     lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3);     phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); and/or beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or     EC 3.2.1.6). -   R. Use of at least one polypeptide as defined in any one of A, B, C,     D, E, or F, in detergents.

In a third aspect, the invention relates to:

-   a. An isolated polypeptide having protease activity, selected from     the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid     sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of     SEQ ID NO: 2, of at least 86%, and/or to amino acids 1-192 of SEQ ID     NO: 6 of at least 72%, (b) a polypeptide which is encoded by a     nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under medium-high stringency     conditions with (i) any one of nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1,     and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, (ii) a subsequence     of (i) of at least 100 nucleotides; and/or (iii) a complementary     strand of any one of (i)-(ii); (c) a variant of the polypeptide     having an amino acid sequence of amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO:     2, or amino acids 1-192 of SEQ ID NO: 6, comprising a substitution,     deletion, extension, and/or insertion of one or more amino     acids; (d) an allelic variant of (a), (b), or (c); and (e) a     fragment of (a), (b), (c), or (d) that has protease activity; -   b. An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid     sequence which (a) encodes the polypeptide of a; (b) encodes a     polypeptide having protease activity, and which hybridizes under     medium-high stringency conditions with (i) any one of nucleotides     502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO:     5, (ii) a subsequence of (i) of at least 100 nucleotides;     and/or (ii) a complementary strand of any one of (i)-(ii);     and/or (c) encodes a polypeptide having protease activity and which     has a degree of identity (i) to nucleotides 502-1065 SEQ ID NO: 1 of     at least 86%, and/or to nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5 of at     least 82%; -   c. An isolated nucleic acid sequence produced by (a) hybridizing a     DNA under medium-high stringency conditions with (i) any one of     nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of     SEQ ID NO: 5; (ii) a subsequence of of (i) of at least 100     nucleotides; and/or (iii) a complementary strand of any one of     (i)-(ii); and (b) isolating the nucleic acid sequence; -   d. A nucleic acid construct comprising the nucleic acid sequence of     any one of b, or c, operably linked to one or more control sequences     that direct the production of the polypeptide in a suitable     expression host; -   e. A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid     construct of d; -   f. A recombinant host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of     d or the vector of e; -   g. A method for producing a polypeptide of a, the method     comprising: (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell of f to produce     a supernatant comprising the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the     polypeptide; -   h. A transgenic plant, or plant part, capable of expressing the     polypeptide of a; -   i. A transgenic, non-human animal, or products, or elements thereof,     being capable of expressing the polypeptide of a; -   j. A method for producing a polypeptide of a, the method     comprising (a) cultivating any one of the following strains: (i)     Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235, or     Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647, and (b) recovering the polypeptide; -   k. Use of at least one polypeptide as defined in a (i) in animal     feed; (ii) in the preparation of a composition for use in animal     feed; (iii) for improving the nutritional value of an animal     feed; (iv) for increasing digestible and/or soluble protein in     animal diets; (v) for increasing the degree of hydrolysis of     proteins in animal diets; and/or (vi) for the treatment of proteins; -   l. An animal feed additive comprising at least one polypeptide as     defined in a; and (a) at least one fat-soluble vitamin, and/or (b)     at least one water-soluble vitamin, and/or (c) at least one trace     mineral; -   m. An animal feed composition having a crude protein content of 50     to 800 g/kg and comprising at least one polypeptide as defined in a,     or at least one feed additive of l; -   n. A composition comprising at least one polypeptide as defined in     a, together with at least one other enzyme selected from amongst     alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), phytase (EC 3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26);     xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89);     alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4.−.−),     phospholipase A1 (EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4);     lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3);     phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); and/or beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or     EC 3.2.1.6); as well as -   o. Use of at least one polypeptide as defined in a in detergents.

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to: an an isolated polypeptide having protease activity, selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 84%; (b) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 78%; (c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under medium-high stringency conditions with (i) DNA encoding a protease obtainable from genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 by use of primers SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4; (ii) nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iii) nucleotides 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iv) a subsequence of (i) or (ii) or (iii) of at least 100 nucleotides; and/or (v) a complementary strand of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv); (d) a variant of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of amino acids 1 to 188, or −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising a substitution, deletion, extension, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids; (e) an allelic variant of (a), (b) or (c); and (e a fragment of (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) that has protease activity.

An isolated polypeptide having protease activity, and having a melting temperature (T_(m)) of at least 78° C., as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in a 10 mM sodium phosphate, 50 mM sodium chloride buffer, pH 7.0, using a constant scan rate of 1.5° C./min, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 50%; (b) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2; (c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) DNA encoding a protease obtainable from genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 by use of primers SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4; (ii) nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iii) nucleotides 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iv) a subsequence of (i) or (ii) or (iii) of at least 100 nucleotides; and/or (v) a complementary strand of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv); (d) a variant of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of amino acids 1 to 188, or −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising a substitution, deletion, extension, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids; (e) an allelic variant of (a), (b) or (c); and (f) a fragment of (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) that has protease activity.

An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence which (a) encodes the polypeptide as defined just above; (b) encodes a polypeptide having protease activity, and which hybridizes under medium-high stringency conditions with (i) DNA encoding a protease obtainable from genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 by use of primers SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4, (ii) nucleotides 502-1065 or 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iii) a subsequence of (i) or (ii) of at least 100 nucleotides; and/or (iv) a complementary strand of (i), (ii), or (iii); (c) encodes a polypeptide having protease activity and which has a degree of identity to nucleotides 502-1065 SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 86%; and/or (d) encodes a polypeptide having protease activity and which has a degree of identity to nucleotides 1-1065 SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 82%.

An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having protease activity and a melting temperature (T_(m)) of at least 78° C., as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) in a 10 mM sodium phosphate, 50 mM sodium chloride buffer, pH 7.0, using a constant scan rate of 1.5° C./min, wherein the nucleic acid sequence (a) encodes the polypeptide with a Tm of at least 78° C. as defined above; (b) hybridizes under low stringency conditions with (i) DNA encoding a protease obtainable from genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 by use of primers SEQ ID NO's: 3 and 4; (ii) nucleotides 502-1065 or 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iii) a subsequence of (i) or (ii) of at least 100 nucleotides; and/or (iv) a complementary strand of (i), (ii), or (iii); (c) has a degree of identity to nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 50%; and/or (d) has a degree of identity to nucleotides 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 50%.

An isolated nucleic acid sequence produced by (a) hybridizing a DNA under medium-high stringency conditions with (i) DNA encoding a protease obtainable from genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 by use of primers SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4; (ii) nucleotides 502-1065 or 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (iii) a subsequence of (i) or (ii) of at least 100 nucleotides; or (iv) a complementary strand of (i), (ii) or (iii); and (b) isolating the nucleic acid sequence.

A nucleic acid construct comprising any of the three nucleic acid sequences defined in any of the three paragraphs immediately above the present, operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in a suitable expression host.

A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct.

A recombinant host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct or the vector.

A method for producing a polypeptide as defined above, the method comprising: (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell of claim 8 to produce a supernatant comprising the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.

A transgenic plant, or plant part, capable of expressing the polypeptide as defined above.

A transgenic, non-human animal, or products, or elements thereof, capable of expressing the above-defined polypeptide.

Use of at least one of the polypeptides as defined above (i) in animal feed; (ii) in the preparation of a composition for use in animal feed; (iii) for improving the nutritional value of an animal feed; (iv) for increasing digestible and/or soluble protein in animal diets; (v) for increasing the degree of hydrolysis of proteins in animal diets; and/or (vi) for the treatment of vegetable proteins.

An animal feed additive comprising at least one polypeptide as defined above; and (a) at least one fat-soluble vitamin, and/or (b) at least one water-soluble vitamin, and/or (c) at least one trace mineral.

An animal feed composition having a crude protein content of 50 to 800 g/kg and comprising at least one polypeptide as defined above, or at least one feed additive as defined above.

A composition comprising at least one polypeptide as defined above, together with at least one other enzyme selected from amongst alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), phytase (EC 3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26); xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89); alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4.−.−), phospholipase A1 (EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4); lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3); phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); and/or beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or EC 3.2.1.6).

Use of at least one polypeptide as defined above in detergents.

The embodiments of the above second, third, and fourth aspects, are, independently of each other, also preferred sub-aspects of the first aspect of the invention, as well as preferred sub-aspects of each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Polypeptides having protease activity, or proteases, are sometimes also designated peptidases, proteinases, peptide hydrolases, or proteolytic enzymes. Proteases may be of the exo-type that hydrolyses peptides starting at either end thereof, or of the endo-type that act internally in polypeptide chains (endopeptidases). Endopeptidases show activity on N- and C-terminally blocked peptide substrates that are relevant for the specificity of the protease in question.

The term “protease” is defined herein as an enzyme that hydrolyses peptide bonds. It includes any enzyme belonging to the EC 3.4 enzyme group (including each of the thirteen subclasses thereof. The EC number refers to Enzyme Nomenclature 1992 from NC-IUBMB, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., including supplements 1-5 published in Eur. J. Biochem. 1994, 223,1-5; Eur. J. Biochem. 1995, 232, 1-6; Eur. J. Biochem. 1996, 237, 1-5; Eur. J. Biochem. 1997, 250, 1-6; and Eur. J. Biochem. 1999, 264, 610-650; respectively. The nomenclature is regularly supplemented and updated; see e.g. the World Wide Web (WWW) at www.chem.qmw.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/index.html).

Proteases are classified on the basis of their catalytic mechanism into the following groups: Serine proteases (S), Cysteine proteases (C), Aspartic proteases (A), Metalloproteases (M), and Unknown, or as yet unclassified, proteases (U), see Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, A. J. Barrett, N. D. Rawlings, J. F. Woessner (eds), Academic Press (1998), in particular the general introduction part.

In particular embodiments, the proteases of the invention and for use according to the invention are selected from the group consisting of:

-   (a) Proteases belonging to the EC 3.4.−.− enzyme group; -   (b) Serine proteases belonging to the S group of the above Handbook; -   (c) Serine proteases of peptidase family S2A; and/or -   (d) Serine proteases of peptidase family S1E as described in     Biochem.J. 290:205-218 (1993) and in MEROPS protease database,     release 6.20, Mar. 24, 2003, (www.merops.ac.uk). The database is     described in Rawlings, N. D., O'Brien, E. A. & Barrett, A. J. (2002)     MEROPS: the protease database. Nucleic Acids Res. 30, 343-346.

For determining whether a given protease is a Serine protease, and a family S2A protease, reference is made to the above Handbook and the principles indicated therein. Such determination can be carried out for all types of proteases, be it naturally occurring or wild-type proteases; or genetically engineered or synthetic proteases.

Protease activity can be measured using any assay, in which a substrate is employed, that includes peptide bonds relevant for the specificity of the protease in question. Assay-pH and assay-temperature are likewise to be adapted to the protease in question. Examples of assay-pH-values are pH 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Examples of assay-temperatures are 30, 35, 37, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, 90, or 95° C.

Non-limiting examples of protease substrates are casein, such as Azurine-Crosslinked Casein (AZCL-casein), and haemoglobin. For the purposes of determining specific activity of the protease of the invention the substrate is haemoglobin, and a suitable assay disclosed in Example 3. Two other protease assays are described in Example 2, either of which can be used to determine protease activity in general. For purposes other than specific activity determinations, the so-called pNA Assay is a preferred assay.

The protease of the invention exhibits a specific activity on haemoglobin at pH 7.5 and 25° C. of at least 39AU/g. The specific activity may be determined as described in Example 3. The protease of the invention may exhibit a specific activity of at least 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, or at least 54 AU/g.

It is well-known that determination of specific activity includes determination of protein content, as well as protease activity, of the purified protease.

In a particular embodiment, the protein content is determined by amino acid analysis, for example by acid hydrolysis of the protease, and subsequent separation and quantification of the released amino acids, preferably on a Biochrom 20 Plus Amino Acid Analyser.

The following are particular, optional, features of the protease activity determination: (i) the haemoglobin substrate is denatured; (ii) the haemoglobin substrate is used in an amount of 0.65% w/w; (ii) the assay buffer is KH₂PO₄/NaOH buffer, pH 7.50; (ii) the reaction time for the protease is 10 minutes; (iii) after the enzymatical reaction, the undigested haemoglobin is precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and removed, preferably by filtration; (iv) the TCA-soluble haemoglobin degradation products in the filtrate are determined, preferably with the Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent; (v) the activity unit (AU) is measured and defined by reference to an ALCALASE™ enzyme standard; (vi) the activity unit (AU) is measured using assay EB-SM-0349, preferably EB-SM-0349 02/01; and/or (vii) the assay used is the “Protease Activity Assay (AU/ml)” as disclosed in Example 3. The ALCALASE™ standard and the EB-SM-0349 assay is available from Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark (quoting “your ref. patent 10476” and “EB-SM-0349”, or “EB-SM-0349 02/01,” respectively).

A screening for proteases of high specific activity related to the proteases of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 6 may be performed as follows: In a first step, a DNA library is screened with primers, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 3, 4, 7, or 8, or preferably with the mature peptide encoding parts of either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5; and hybridizing clones are expressed in a suitable strain, e.g. a strain of Bacillus or E. coli. In a next step, the expressed proteases related to SEQ ID NOs: 2 and/or 6 are purified, preferably in a micro-purification process (see e.g. WO 03/037914), and in a following step, the amount of active protease is determined for each candidate by use of the well-known principle of active site titration (AST) with a strong inhibitor of the enzyme. This is with a view to being able to compare equal molar amounts of each protease in the subsequent final step, which is a determination of the protease activity of the now known amount of protease by any suitable assay, for example the pNA assay of Example 2 herein. A major part of this procedure may be automatized, and if desired performed with the assistance of robots. The verification of high specific activity is e.g. done by purification of the protease, and establishment of the specific activity as described in the experimental part herein.

There are no limitations on the origin of the protease of the invention and/or for use according to the invention. Thus, the term protease includes not only natural or wild-type proteases obtained from microorganisms of any genus, but also any mutants, variants, fragments etc. thereof exhibiting protease activity, as well as synthetic proteases, such as shuffled proteases, and consensus proteases. Such genetically engineered proteases can be prepared as is generally known in the art, eg by Site-directed Mutagenesis, by PCR (using a PCR fragment containing the desired mutation as one of the primers in the PCR reactions), or by Random Mutagenesis. The preparation of consensus proteins is described in eg EP 897985. Gene shuffling is generally described in e.g. WO 95/22625 and WO 96/00343. Recombination of protease genes can be made independently of the specific sequence of the parents by synthetic shuffling as described in Ness, J. E. et al, in Nature Biotechnology, Vol. 20 (12), pp. 1251-1255, 2002. Synthetic oligonucleotides degenerated in their DNA sequence to provide the possibility of all amino acids found in the set of parent proteases are designed and the genes assembled according to the reference. The shuffling can be carried out for the full length sequence or for only part of the sequence and then later combined with the rest of the gene to give a full length sequence. Proteases having an amino acid sequence comprising the mature parts of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6 are particular examples of such parent proteases which can be subjected to shuffling as described above, if desired together with, e.g., the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262, to provide additional proteases of the invention. The term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with a given source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence is produced by the source or by a cell in which the nucleic acid sequence from the source is present. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide is secreted extracellularly.

In a specific embodiment, the protease is a low-allergenic variant, designed to invoke a reduced immunological response when exposed to animals, including man. The term immunological response is to be understood as any reaction by the immune system of an animal exposed to the protease. One type of immunological response is an allergic response leading to increased levels of IgE in the exposed animal. Low-allergenic variants may be prepared using techniques known in the art. For example the protease may be conjugated with polymer moieties shielding portions or epitopes of the protease involved in an immunological response. Conjugation with polymers may involve in vitro chemical coupling of polymer to the protease, e.g. as described in WO 96/17929, WO 98/30682, WO 98/35026, and/or WO 99/00489. Conjugation may in addition or alternatively thereto involve in vivo coupling of polymers to the protease. Such conjugation may be achieved by genetic engineering of the nucleotide sequence encoding the protease, inserting consensus sequences encoding additional glycosylation sites in the protease and expressing the protease in a host capable of glycosylating the protease, see e.g. WO 00/26354. Another way of providing low-allergenic variants is genetic engineering of the nucleotide sequence encoding the protease so as to cause the protease to self-oligomerize, effecting that protease monomers may shield the epitopes of other protease monomers and thereby lowering the antigenicity of the oligomers. Such products and their preparation is described e.g. in WO 96/16177. Epitopes involved in an immunological response may be identified by various methods such as the phage display method described in WO 00/26230 and WO 01/83559, or the random approach described in EP 561907. Once an epitope has been identified, its amino acid sequence may be altered to produce altered immunological properties of the protease by known gene manipulation techniques such as site directed mutagenesis (see e.g. WO 00/26230, WO 00/26354 and/or WO 00/22103) and/or conjugation of a polymer may be done in sufficient proximity to the epitope for the polymer to shield the epitope.

A polypeptide according to either aspect of the present invention may comprise an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to the mature peptide part of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, for example to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or to amino acids 1 to 192 of SEQ ID NO: 6 (the mature peptide parts), of, for example, at least about 65%, and which have protease activity (hereinafter “homologous polypeptides”). In particular embodiments, the degree of identity to either of the mature peptide parts of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, is at least about 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least 99%. In alternative embodiments, the degree of identity is at least about 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, or at least about 64%.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or to amino acids −160 to 192 of SEQ ID NO: 6, of, for example, at least about 78%, and which have protease activity. In particular embodiments, the degree of identity to amino acids −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, is at least about 80%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least 99%. In alternative embodiments, the degree of identity is at least about 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, or at least 84%.

In particular embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention i) have; or ii) consist of an amino acid sequence with any of the degrees of identity as mentioned above.

For the purposes of the present invention, the degree of identity between two amino acid sequences, as well as the degree of identity between two nucleotide sequences, is determined by the program “align” which is a Needleman-Wunsch alignment (i.e. a global alignment). The program is used for alignment of polypeptide, as well as nucleotide sequences. The default scoring matrix BLOSUM50 is used for polypeptide alignments, and the default identity matrix is used for nucleotide alignments. The penalty for the first residue of a gap is −12 for polypeptides and −16 for nucleotides. The penalties for further residues of a gap are −2 for polypeptides, and −4 for nucleotide. “Align” is part of the FASTA package version v20u6 (see W. R. Pearson and D. J. Lipman (1988), “Improved Tools for Biological Sequence Analysis”, PNAS 85:2444-2448, and W. R. Pearson (1990) “Rapid and Sensitive Sequence Comparison with FASTP and FASTA,” Methods in Enzymology 183:63-98). FASTA protein alignments use the Smith-Waterman algorithm with no limitation on gap size (see “Smith-Waterman algorithm”, T. F. Smith and M. S. Waterman (1981) J. Mol. Biol. 147:195-197).

In a particular embodiment, the mature peptide parts, or predicted or expected mature peptide parts, of the two amino acid sequences are used for the alignment. In the alternative, that part of the sequence, whose identity to the mature peptide part of SEQ ID NO: 2 is being examined, is chosen, which according to a multiple alignment made as described below is most similar to the mature peptide part of SEQ ID NO: 2, i.e. the corresponding amino acid residues as identified by the multiple alignment.

In the present context, the basis for numbering amino acid residues (or assigning position numbers, cf. the second aspect of the invention) is SEQ ID NO: 2 starting with A1 and ending with T188. In the alternative, the basis is amino acids 1-188 of the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262 (SEQ ID NO: 1 as disclosed in WO 01/58276, preferably SEQ ID NO: 1 as disclosed in WO 01/58276 in which A87 is substituted with T87). Proteases may comprise extensions as compared to the mature peptide parts, viz. in the N-terminal, and/or the C-terminal ends thereof. The amino acids of such extensions, if any, are to be numbered as is usual in the art, i.e. for a C-terminal extension: 189, 190, 191 and so forth, and for an N-terminal extension −1, −2, −3 and so forth.

For each amino acid residue in each protease aligned to the reference sequence, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2, as explained above (for the purposes of determining degree of identity), it is possible to directly and unambiguously assign an amino acid residue in the reference sequence, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2, to which it corresponds. Corresponding residues are assigned the same position, or number, by reference to, e.g., SEQ ID NO: 2.

For each amino acid residue in another protease, the corresponding position of the reference sequence, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2, can be found, as follows:

The amino acid sequence of the other protease is designated SEQ X. A position corresponding to position N of SEQ ID NO: 2 is found as follows: SEQ X is aligned with SEQ ID NO: 2 as specified above. From the alignment, the position in sequence SEQ X corresponding to position N of SEQ ID NO: 2 can be clearly and unambiguously derived, using the principles described below.

SEQ X may be a mature part of the protease in question, or it may also include a signal peptide part, or it may be a fragment of the mature protease which has protease activity, e.g. a fragment of the same length as SEQ ID NO: 2, and/or it may be the fragment which extends from A1to T188 when aligned with SEQ ID NO: 2 as described herein.

Three alignments are inserted below as Tables I, II and III. The alignments were prepared as described above, aligning the mature part of another protease (SEQ X1, SEQ X2, and SEQ X3, respectively) to SEQ ID NO: 2. Approximately 50 amino acid residues of each protease are shown.

Looking first at the alignment of Table I, it is clear that, e.g., P42 of SEQ ID NO: 2 corresponds to Q42 of SEQ X1, as these residues are on top of each other in the alignment. They are both assigned number 42, viz. the number of the corresponding residue in SEQ ID NO: 2. It is also apparent from this alignment that, e.g., SEQ X1 does not comprise any of 25S, 38T, 42P, 44S, or 49Q. TABLE I ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNASGQPGF VTAGHCGTVG TPVSIGNGQG SEQ ID NO: 2 ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNAAGQPGF VTAGHCGRVG TQVTIGNGRG SEQ X1         10         20         30         40         50

Tables II and III are examples of alignments producing gaps in either of the two sequences.

In the alignment of Table II, a gap is produced in SEQ X2. The highlighted amino acid residue P of SEQ X2 is, for the present purposes, designated P28, although in SEQ X as such it is P25. TABLE II ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNASGQPGF VTAGHCGTVG TPVSIGNGQG SEQ ID NO: 2 ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNA--- P GF VTAGHCGRVG TQVTIGNGRG SEQ X2         10         20         30         40         50

In the alignment of Table III, a gap is produced in SEQ X3. When a gap is produced between amino acids having position number nn and (nn+1) of SEQ ID NO: 2, each position of the gap is assigned a lower case or subscript letter: a, b, c etc. to the former position number, i.e. nn. Accordingly, each position of the gap is numbered nna, nnb etc. The highlighted amino acid residue R of SEQ X3 is, for the present purposes, designated R33a, although in SEQ X3 as such it is R34. TABLE III ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNASGQPGF VTA--GHCGT VGTPVSIGNGQG SEQ ID NO: 2 ADIIGGLAYT MGGRCSVGFA ATNAAGQPGF VTA R SGHCGR VGTQVTIGNGRG SEQ X3         10         20         30         40           50

In further particular embodiments of either aspect of the invention, the polypeptide of the invention has a melting temperature Tm of at least 75° C., 76° C., 77° C., 78° C., 79° C., 80° C., 81° C., 82° C., 83° C., 84° C., 85° C., 86° C., 87° C., 88° C., 89° C., 90° C., 91° C., 92° C., 93° C., 94° C., or at least 95° C., as determined by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The DSC is performed in a 10 mM sodium phosphate, 50 mM sodium chloride buffer, pH 7.0. The scan rate is constant, e.g. 1.5° C./min. The interval scanned may be from 20 to 100° C.

There are no upper limitations on the T_(m), however, it is presently contemplated that the T_(m) may be below 150° C., 145° C., 140° C., 135° C., 130° C., 125° C., 120° C., 115° C., 110° C., 105° C., or below 100° C.

In an alternative embodiment, another buffer is selected for the scanning, e.g. a buffer of pH 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, or pH 6.5.

In further alternative embodiments, a higher or lower scan rate may be used, e.g. a lower one of 1.4° C./min, 1.3° C./min, 1.2° C./min, 1.1° C./min, 1.0° C./min, or 0.9° C./min.

Reference is made to Example 2 for further details about the scanning procedure.

In a particular embodiment, the protease of the invention exhibits an amended temperature activity profile as compared to the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. For example, the protease of the invention may exhibit a relative activity at pH 9 and 80° C. of at least 0.40, preferably at least 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, 0.60, 0.65, 0.70, 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90, or at least 0.95, the term “relative” referring to the maximum activity measured for the protease in question. For the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262, the activity at 70° C. is set to 1.000 (100%), see Example 2. As another example, the protease of the invention exhibits a relative activity at pH 9 and 90° C. of at least 0.10, preferably at least 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, or of at least 0.35. In a particular embodiment, the protease activity is measured using the Protazyme AK assay of Example 2.

The present invention also relates to the animal feed use of the polypeptides of the invention.

The degree of identity between two amino acid sequences may also be determined by the Clustal method (Higgins, 1989, CABIOS 5: 151-153) using the LASERGENE™ MEGALIGN™ software (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, Wis.) with an identity table and the following multiple alignment parameters: Gap penalty of 10, and gap length penalty of 10. Pairwise alignment parameters are Ktuple=1, gap penalty=3, windows=5, and diagonals=5. The degree of identity between two nucleotide sequences may be determined using the same algorithm and software package as described above with the following settings: Gap penalty of 10, and gap length penalty of 10. Pairwise alignment parameters are Ktuple=3, gap penalty=3 and windows=20.

In a particular embodiment, the homologous polypeptides have an amino acid sequence that differs from (a) the mature peptide parts of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, or (b) from the proforms thereof (excluding signal peptide parts, including mature peptide parts), by (i) no more than 50, 49, 48, 47, 46, 45, 44, 43, 42, 41, 40, 39, 38, 37, 36, 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30, 29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21, or no more than 20 amino acids; (ii) no more than twenty, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen, fifteen, fourteen, thirteen, twelve, or no more than eleven amino acids; (iii) no more than ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, or no more than one amino acid; (iv) ten, or by nine, or by eight, or by seven, or by six, or by five amino acids; or (v) four, or by three, or by two amino acids, or by one amino acid.

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptides of the present invention comprise the amino acid sequence of the mature peptide part of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, or allelic variants thereof; or fragments thereof that have protease activity.

In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptides of the present invention consist of the mature peptide part of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, or allelic variants thereof; or fragments thereof that have protease activity.

A fragment is a polypeptide having one or more amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of these amino acid sequences. In one embodiment a fragment contains at least 75 amino acid residues, or at least 100 amino acid residues, or at least 125 amino acid residues, or at least 150 amino acid residues, or at least 160 amino acid residues, or at least 165 amino acid residues, or at least 170 amino acid residues, or at least 175 amino acid residues.

An allelic variant denotes any of two or more alternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus. Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result in polymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no change in the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having altered amino acid sequences. An allelic variant of a polypeptide is a polypeptide encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides having protease activity and which are encoded by nucleic acid sequences which hybridize under very low, or low, or medium, or medium-high, or high, or very high stringency conditions with a nucleic acid probe which hybridizes under the same conditions with (a) nucleotides 1-1065, preferably 502-1065, or of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 1-1143, preferably 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (b) a subsequence of (a), or (c) a complementary strand of (a), or (b) (J. Sambrook, E. F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis, 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd edition, Cold Spring Harbor, New York). In one particular embodiment the nucleic acid probe is selected from amongst the nucleic acid sequences of (a), (b), or (c) above.

The subsequence of the nucleotides mentioned under (a) above may be at least 100 nucleotides, or in another embodiment at least 200 nucleotides. Moreover, the subsequence may encode a polypeptide fragment that has protease activity.

The nucleic acid sequences of (a) above, or a subsequence thereof, as well as the corresponding parts of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, or a fragment thereof, may be used to design a nucleic acid probe to identify and clone DNA encoding polypeptides having protease activity from strains of different genera or species according to methods well known in the art. In particular, such probes can be used for hybridization with the genomic or cDNA of the genus or species of interest, following standard Southern blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolate the corresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorter than the entire sequence, but should be at least 15, preferably at least 25, and more preferably at least 35 nucleotides in length. Longer probes can also be used. Both DNA and RNA probes can be used. The probes are typically labeled for detecting the corresponding gene (for example, with ³²P, ³H, ³⁵S, biotin, or avidin). Such probes are encompassed by the present invention.

Thus, a genomic DNA or cDNA library prepared from such other organisms may be screened for DNA that hybridizes with the probes described above and which encodes a polypeptide having protease activity. Genomic or other DNA from such other organisms may be separated by agarose or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or other separation techniques. DNA from the libraries or the separated DNA may be transferred to and immobilized on nitrocellulose or other suitable carrier material. In order to identify a clone or DNA which is homologous with either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5, or a subsequence thereof, the carrier material is used in a Southern blot. For purposes of the present invention, hybridization indicates that the nucleic acid sequence hybridizes to a labeled nucleic acid probe corresponding to the nucleic acid sequence shown in either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5; the complementary strands thereof, or subsequences thereof, under very low to very high stringency conditions. Molecules to which the nucleic acid probe hybridizes under these conditions are detected using X-ray film.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, very low to very high stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization and hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml sheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and either 25% formamide for very low and low stringencies, 35% formamide for medium and medium-high stringencies, or 50% formamide for high and very high stringencies, following standard Southern blotting procedures.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, the carrier material is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 0.2×SSC, 0.2% SDS, 20% formamide preferably at least at 45° C. (very low stringency), more preferably at least at 50° C. (low stringency), more preferably at least at 55° C. (medium stringency), more preferably at least at 60° C. (medium-high stringency), even more preferably at least at 65° C.(high stringency), and most preferably at least at 70° C. (very high stringency).

For short probes about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotides in length, stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization, hybridization, and washing post-hybridization at 5° C. to 10° C. below the calculated T_(m) using the calculation according to Bolton and McCarthy (1962, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 48:1390) in 0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 6 mM EDTA, 0.5% NP-40, 1× Denhardt's solution, 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1 mM sodium monobasic phosphate, 0.1 mM ATP, and 0.2 mg of yeast RNA per ml following standard Southern blotting procedures.

For short probes about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotides in length, the carrier material is washed once in 6×SSC plus 0.1% SDS for 15 minutes and twice each for 15 minutes using 6×SSC at 5° C. to 10° C. below the calculated T_(m).

The present invention also relates to variants of the polypeptide having an amino acid sequence of the mature part of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids.

The amino acid sequences of the variant polypeptides may differ from the amino acid sequence of the mature part of either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, by an insertion or deletion of one or more amino acid residues and/or the substitution of one or more amino acid residues by different amino acid residues. In a particular embodiment, amino acid changes are of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of one to about 30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small peptide of up to about 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract, an antigenic epitope or a binding domain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the group of basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Accordingly, for example, the invention relates to a polypeptide having, or comprising, a sequence as set forth in either of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 6, preferably the mature parts thereof, wherein conservative amino acid substitutions comprise replacements, one for another, among the basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), among the acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), among the polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), among the hydrophobic amino acids (alanine, leucine, isoleucine, and valine), among the aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and among the small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine), or any combination thereof, or active fragments thereof.

Amino acid substitutions which do not generally alter the specific activity are known in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R. L. Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. The most commonly occurring exchanges are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly as well as these in reverse.

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptides of the invention and for use according to the invention are acid-stable. For the present purposes, the term acid-stable means that the residual activity after 2 hours of incubation at pH 2.0, pH 2.5 or pH 3.0 and 37° C., is at least 50%, as compared to the residual activity of a corresponding sample incubated for 2 hours at pH 9.0 and 5° C. In a particular embodiment, the residual activity is at least 60%, 70%, 80% or at least 90%. A suitable assay for determining acid-stability is the pH-stability assay of Example 2.

In another particular embodiment, the polypeptides of the invention and for use according to the invention have a relative activity at pH 7.0 of at least 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30 or at least 0.35. The pH-profile test of Example 2 is used for the determination.

In still further particular embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention and for use according to the invention have i) a relative activity at 60° C. and pH 9 of at least 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 or at least 0.20; and/or ii) a relative activity at 70° C. of at least 0.40, 0.50, or at least 0.56. The temperature-profile test of Example 2 is used for these determinations.

In still further particular embodiments, the polypeptides of the invention and for use according to the invention have a T_(m), as determined by DSC, of at least 78° C. or of at least 79, 80, 81, 82, or of at least 83° C. T_(m) is determined at pH 7.0 as described in Example 2.

The polypeptide of the invention and for use according to the invention may be a bacterial or fungal polypeptide. The fungal polypeptide may be derived from a filamentous fungus or from a yeast.

In particular embodiments, the polypeptide of the invention is i) a bacterial protease; ii) a protease of the phylum Actinobacteria; iii) of the class Actinobacteria; iv) of the order Actinomycetales v) of the family Nocardiopsaceae; vi) of the genus Nocardiopsis; and/or a protease derived from vii) Nocardiopsis species such as, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei, Nocardiopsis alkaliphila, Nocardiopsis antarctica, Nocardiopsis prasina, Nocardiopsis composta, Nocardiopsis exhalans, Nocardiopsis halophila, Nocardiopsis halotolerans, Nocardiopsis kunsanensis, Nocardiopsis listeri, Nocardiopsis lucentensis, Nocardiopsis metallicus, Nocardiopsis synnemataformans, Nocardiopsis trehalosi, Nocardiopsis tropica, Nocardiopsis umidischolae, Nocardiopsis xinjiangensis, or Nocardiopsis alba, for example Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647, such as a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1 to 188 or −167 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2, or from Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 4235, such as a polypeptide with the amino acid sequence of amino acids 1-192, or −160 to 192 of SEQ ID NO: 6. In a particular embodiment, the protease derives from Nocardiopsis alba.

The above taxonomy is according to the chapter: The road map to the Manual by G. M. Garrity & J. G. Holt in Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, 2001, second edition, volume 1, David R. Bone, Richard W. Castenholz.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species, the invention encompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomic equivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by which they are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize the identity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in a number of culture collections, such as the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), and Agricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, Northern Regional Research Center (NRRL). E.g., Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235 is publicly available from DSMZ (Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany). This strain was also deposited at other depositary institutions as follows: ATCC 23219, IMRU 1250, NCTC 10489.

Furthermore, such polypeptides may be identified and obtained from other sources including microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts, water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolating microorganisms from natural habitats are well known in the art. The nucleic acid sequence may then be derived by similarly screening a genomic or cDNA library of another microorganism. Once a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide has been detected with the probe(s), the sequence may be isolated or cloned by utilizing techniques which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

As defined herein, an “isolated,” or “purified,” polypeptide is a polypeptide which is essentially free of other polypeptides, e.g., at least about 20% pure, preferably at least about 40% pure, more preferably about 60% pure, even more preferably about 80% pure, most preferably about 90% pure, and even most preferably about 95% pure, as determined by SDS-PAGE.

Polypeptides encoded by nucleic acid sequences of the present invention also include fused polypeptides or cleavable fusion polypeptides in which another polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of the polypeptide or fragment thereof. A fused polypeptide is produced by fusing a nucleic acid sequence (or a portion thereof) encoding another polypeptide to a nucleic acid sequence (or a portion thereof) of the present invention. Techniques for producing fusion polypeptides are known in the art, e.g. PCR, or ligating the coding sequences encoding the polypeptides so that they are in frame and that expression of the fused polypeptide is under control of the same promoter(s) and terminator.

In still further particular embodiments, the invention excludes one or more of the proteases derived from (i) Nocardiopsis dassonvillei NRRL 18133 which is disclosed in WO 88/03947; (ii) Nocardiopsis sp. strain OPC-210 (FERM P-10508) which is disclosed in JP 2-255081-A; (iii) strain ZIMET 43647 of the species Nocardiopsis dassonvillei which is disclosed in DD 200432|8; (iv) Nocardiopsis sp. TOA-1 (FERM-P-18676) which is disclosed in JP 2003284571; and/or (v) the corresponding DNA.

Nucleic Acid Sequences The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences that encode a polypeptide of the present invention. Particular nucleic acid sequences of the invention are nucleotides 502-1065, or 1-1065, of SEQ ID NO: 1, of which nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, correspond to the mature polypeptide encoding region, as well as nucleotides 1-1143, preferably 568-1143, of SEQ ID NO: 5. The present invention also encompasses nucleic acid sequences which encode a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of amino acids −167 to 188, preferably 1-188, of SEQ ID NO: 2, or amino acids -160 to 192, preferably 1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6, which differ from the corresponding parts of SEQ ID NO: 1 by virtue of the degeneracy of the genetic code. The present invention also relates to subsequences of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 5, which encode fragments of SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 6, respectively, which have protease activity.

A subsequence of either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5 is a nucleic acid sequence encompassed by either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5, except that one or more nucleotides from the 5′ and/or 3′ end has been deleted. Preferably, a subsequence contains at least 225 nucleotides, more preferably at least 300 nucleotides, even more preferably at least 375, 450, 500, 531, 600, 700, 800, 900 or 1000 nucleotides.

The present invention also relates to nucleotide sequences which have a degree of identity to (i) nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, or to (ii) nucleotides 1-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and/or nucleotides 88-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, of at least 74%. In particular embodiments, the degree of identity to either of the nucleotides of (i) or (ii) is at least 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or at least 99%. In other particular embodiments, the degree of identity to either of the nucleotides of (i) or (ii) is at least 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, or at least 73%.

The present invention also relates to mutant nucleic acid sequences comprising at least one mutation in either of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 5, preferably in the mature peptide encoding parts, in which the mutant nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide which (i) consists of amino acids −167 to 188, preferably 1-188, of SEQ ID NO: 2, or amino acids −160 to 192, preferably 1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6; or (ii) is a variant of any of the sequences of (i), wherein the variant comprises a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids, or (iii) is an allelic variant of any of the sequences of (i), or (iv) is a fragment of any of the sequences of (i).

The techniques used to isolate or clone a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide are known in the art and include isolation from genomic DNA, preparation from cDNA, or a combination thereof. The cloning of the nucleic acid sequences of the present invention from such genomic DNA can be effected, e.g., by using the well known polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antibody screening of expression libraries to detect cloned DNA fragments with shared structural features. See, e.g., Innis et al., 1990, PCR: A Guide to Methods and Application, Academic Press, New York. Other nucleic acid amplification procedures such as ligase chain reaction (LCR), ligated activated transcription (LAT) and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) may be used. The nucleic acid sequence may be cloned from a strain of Nocardiopsis or another or related organism and thus, for example, may be an allelic or species variant of the polypeptide encoding region of the nucleic acid sequence.

The term “isolated nucleic acid sequence” as used herein refers to a nucleic acid sequence which is essentially free of other nucleic acid sequences, e.g., at least about 20% pure, preferably at least about 40% pure, more preferably at least about 60% pure, even more preferably at least about 80% pure, and most preferably at least about 90% pure as determined by agarose electrophoresis. For example, an isolated nucleic acid sequence can be obtained by standard cloning procedures used in genetic engineering to relocate the nucleic acid sequence from its natural location to a different site where it will be reproduced. The cloning procedures may involve excision and isolation of a desired nucleic acid fragment comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide, insertion of the fragment into a vector molecule, and incorporation of the recombinant vector into a host cell where multiple copies or clones of the nucleic acid sequence will be replicated. The nucleic acid sequence may be of genomic, cDNA, RNA, semisynthetic, synthetic origin, or any combinations thereof.

Modification of a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be necessary for the synthesis of polypeptides substantially similar to the polypeptide. The term “substantially similar” to the polypeptide refers to non-naturally occurring forms of the polypeptide. These polypeptides may differ in some engineered way from the polypeptide isolated from its native source, e.g., variants that differ in specific activity, thermostability, pH optimum, allergenicity, or the like. The variant sequence may be constructed on the basis of the nucleic acid sequence presented as the polypeptide encoding part of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and/or 5, e.g., a subsequence thereof, and/or by introduction of nucleotide substitutions which do not give rise to another amino acid sequence of the polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, but which correspond to the codon usage of the host organism intended for production of the protease, or by introduction of nucleotide substitutions which may give rise to a different amino acid sequence. For a general description of nucleotide substitution, see, e.g., Ford et al., 1991, Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107. Low-allergenic polypeptides can e.g. be prepared as described above.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such substitutions can be made outside the regions critical to the function of the molecule and still result in an active polypeptide. Amino acid residues essential to- the activity of the polypeptide encoded by the isolated nucleic acid sequence of the invention, and therefore preferably not subject to substitution, may be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (see, e.g., Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, mutations are introduced at every positively charged residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for protease activity to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. Sites of substrate-protease interaction can also be determined by analysis of the three-dimensional structure as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance analysis, crystallography or photoaffinity labelling (see, e.g., de Vos et al., 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, Journal of Molecular Biology 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Letters 309: 59-64).

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding a polypeptide of the present invention, which hybridize under very low stringency conditions, preferably low stringency conditions, more preferably medium stringency conditions, more preferably medium-high stringency conditions, even more preferably high stringency conditions, and most preferably very high stringency conditions with a nucleic acid probe which hybridizes under the same conditions with the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or 5, or their complementary strands; or allelic variants and subsequences thereof (Sambrook et al., 1989, supra), as defined herein.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid sequences produced by (a) hybridizing a DNA under very low, low, medium, medium-high, high, or very high stringency conditions with (i) nucleotides 1-1065, preferably 502-1065, of SEQ ID NO: 1, or nucleotides 1-1143, or 88-1143, preferably 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, (ii) a subsequence of (i), or (iii) a complementary strand of (i), or (ii); and (b) isolating the nucleic acid sequence. The subsequence is preferably a sequence of at least 100 nucleotides such as a sequence that encodes a polypeptide fragment which has protease activity.

Methods for Producing Mutant Nucleic Acid Sequences The present invention further relates to methods for producing a mutant nucleic acid sequence, comprising introducing at least one mutation into the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and/or 5, or a subsequence thereof, wherein the mutant nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide which consists of amino acids -167 to 188, preferably 1-188, of SEQ ID NO: 2, or amino acids −160 to 192, preferably 1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6; or a fragment thereof which has protease activity.

The introduction of a mutation into the nucleic acid sequence to exchange one nucleotide for another nucleotide may be accomplished by site-directed mutagenesis using any of the methods known in the art. Particularly useful is the procedure that utilizes a supercoiled, double stranded DNA vector with an insert of interest and two synthetic primers containing the desired mutation. The oligonucleotide primers, each complementary to opposite strands of the vector, extend during temperature cycling by means of Pfu DNA polymerase. On incorporation of the primers, a mutated plasmid containing staggered nicks is generated. Following temperature cycling, the product is treated with Dpnl which is specific for methylated and hemimethylated DNA to digest the parental DNA template and to select for mutation-containing synthesized DNA. Other procedures known in the art may also be used.

Nucleic Acid Constructs The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprising a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the expression of the coding sequence in a suitable host cell under conditions compatible with the control sequences. Expression will be understood to include any step involved in the production of the polypeptide including, but not limited to, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation, post-translational modification, and secretion. “Nucleic acid construct” is defined herein as a nucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which is isolated from a naturally occurring gene or which has been modified to contain segments of nucleic acid combined and juxtaposed in a manner that would not otherwise exist in nature. The term nucleic acid construct is synonymous with the term expression cassette when the nucleic acid construct contains all the control sequences required for expression of a coding sequence of the present invention. The term “coding sequence” is defined herein as a nucleic acid sequence that directly specifies the amino acid sequence of its protein product. The boundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by a ribosome binding site (prokaryotes) or by the ATG start codon (eukaryotes) located just upstream of the open reading frame at the 5′ end of the mRNA and a transcription terminator sequence located just downstream of the open reading frame at the 3′ end of the mRNA. A coding sequence can include, but is not limited to, DNA, cDNA, and recombinant nucleic acid sequences.

An isolated nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be manipulated in a variety of ways to provide for expression of the polypeptide. Manipulation of the nucleic acid sequence prior to its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessary depending on the expression vector. The techniques for modifying nucleic acid sequences utilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in the art.

The term “control sequences” is defined herein to include all components that are necessary or advantageous for the expression of a polypeptide of the present invention. Each control sequence may be native or foreign to the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Such control sequences include, but are not limited to, a leader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signal peptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At a minimum, the control sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The control sequences may be provided with linkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sites facilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region of the nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide. The term “operably linked” is defined herein as a configuration in which a control sequence is appropriately placed at a position relative to the coding sequence of the DNA sequence such that the control sequence directs the expression of a polypeptide.

The control sequence may be an appropriate promoter sequence, a nucleic acid sequence that is recognized by a host cell for expression of the nucleic acid sequence. The promoter sequence contains transcriptional control sequences that mediate the expression of the polypeptide. The promoter may be any nucleic acid sequence which shows transcriptional activity in the host cell of choice including mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encoding extracellular or intracellular polypeptides either homologous or heterologous to the host cell.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention, especially in a bacterial host cell, are the promoters obtained from the E. coli lac operon, Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene (dagA), Bacillus subtilis levansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylB genes, and prokaryotic beta-lactamase gene (Villa-Kamaroff et al., 1978, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 75: 3727-3731), as well as the tac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 80: 21-25). Further promoters are described in “Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” in Scientific American, 1980, 242: 74-94; and in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of the nucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungal host cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger acid stable alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase (glaA), Rhizomucor miehei lipase, Aspergillus oryzae alkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase, Aspergillus nidulans acetamidase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), as well as the NA2-tpi promoter (a hybrid of the promoters from the genes for Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase and Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase), and mutant, truncated, and hybrid promoters thereof.

In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae galactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful promoters for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8: 423-488.

The control sequence may also be a suitable transcription terminator sequence, a sequence recognized by a host cell to terminate transcription. The terminator sequence is operably linked to the 3′ terminus of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Any terminator which is functional in the host cell of choice may be used in the present invention.

Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease.

Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators for yeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

Preferred terminators for bacterial host cells, such as a Bacillus host cell, are the terminators from Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), the Bacillus stearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), or the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ).

The control sequence may also be a suitable leader sequence, a nontranslated region of an mRNA which is important for translation by the host cell. The leader sequence is operably linked to the 5′ terminus of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide. Any leader sequence that is functional in the host cell of choice may be used in the present invention.

Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulans triose phosphate isomerase.

Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).

The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequence operably linked to the 3′ terminus of the nucleic acid sequence and which, when transcribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal to add polyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequence which is functional in the host cell of choice may be used in the present invention.

Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase, Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease, and Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase.

Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described by Guo and Sherman, 1995, Molecular Cellular Biology 15: 5983-5990.

The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region that codes for an amino acid sequence linked to the amino terminus of a polypeptide and directs the encoded polypeptide into the cell's secretory pathway. The 5′ end of the coding sequence of the nucleic acid sequence may inherently contain a signal peptide coding region naturally linked in translation reading frame with the segment of the coding region which encodes the secreted polypeptide. Alternatively, the 5′ end of the coding sequence may contain a signal peptide coding region which is foreign to the coding sequence. The foreign signal peptide coding region may be required where the coding sequence does not naturally contain a signal peptide coding region. Alternatively, the foreign signal peptide coding region may simply replace the natural signal peptide coding region in order to enhance secretion of the polypeptide. However, any signal peptide coding region which directs the expressed polypeptide into the secretory pathway of a host cell of choice may be used in the present invention.

Effective signal peptide coding regions for bacterial host cells are the signal peptide coding regions obtained from the genes for Bacillus NCIB 11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase, Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin, Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT, nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides are described by Simonen and Palva, 1993, Microbiological Reviews 57: 109-137.

Effective signal peptide coding regions for filamentous fungal host cells are the signal peptide coding regions obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Humicola insolens cellulase, and Humicola lanuginosa lipase.

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes for Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase. Other useful signal peptide coding regions are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a propeptide coding region that codes for an amino acid sequence positioned at the amino terminus of a polypeptide. The resultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme or propolypeptide (or a zymogen in some cases). A propolypeptide is generally inactive and can be converted to a mature active polypeptide by catalytic or autocatalytic cleavage of the propeptide from the propolypeptide. The propeptide coding region may be obtained from the genes for Bacillus subtilis alkaline protease (aprE), Bacillus subtilis neutral protease (nprT), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, and Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (WO 95/33836).

In a preferred embodiment, the propeptide coding region is nucleotides 1-501 of SEQ ID NO: 1 or nucleotides 88-567 of SEQ ID NO: 5.

Where both signal peptide and propeptide regions are present at the amino terminus of a polypeptide, the propeptide region is positioned next to the amino terminus of a polypeptide and the signal peptide region is positioned next to the amino terminus of the propeptide region.

It may also be desirable to add regulatory sequences which allow the regulation of the expression of the polypeptide relative to the growth of the host cell. Examples of regulatory systems are those which cause the expression of the gene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatory compound. Regulatory systems in prokaryotic systems include the lac, tac, and trp operator systems. In yeast, the ADH2 system or GAL1 system may be used. In filamentous fungi, the TAKA alpha-amylase promoter, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase promoter, and Aspergillus oryzae glucoamylase promoter may be used as regulatory sequences. Other examples of regulatory sequences are those which allow for gene amplification. In eukaryotic systems, these include the dihydrofolate reductase gene which is amplified in the presence of methotrexate, and the metallothionein genes which are amplified with heavy metals. In these cases, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide would be operably linked with the regulatory sequence.

Expression Vectors

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectors comprising a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention, a promoter, and transcriptional and translational stop signals. The various nucleic acid and control sequences described above may be joined together to produce a recombinant expression vector which may include one or more convenient restriction sites to allow for insertion or substitution of the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide at such sites. Alternatively, the nucleic acid sequence of the present invention may be expressed by inserting the nucleic acid sequence or a nucleic acid construct comprising the sequence into an appropriate vector for expression. In creating the expression vector, the coding sequence is located in the vector so that the coding sequence is operably linked with the appropriate control sequences for expression.

The recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid or virus) which can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA procedures and can bring about the expression of the nucleic acid sequence. The choice of the vector will typically depend on the compatibility of the vector with the host cell into which the vector is to be introduced. The vectors may be linear or closed circular plasmids.

The vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vector which exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which is independent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, an extrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome. The vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication. Alternatively, the vector may be one which, when introduced into the host cell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with the chromosome(s) into which it has been integrated. Furthermore, a single vector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids which together contain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of the host cell, or a transposon may be used.

The vectors of the present invention preferably contain one or more selectable markers which permit easy selection of transformed cells. A selectable marker is a gene the product of which provides for biocide or viral resistance, resistance to heavy metals, prototrophy to auxotrophs, and the like. Examples of bacterial selectable markers are the dal genes from Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis. Suitable markers for yeast host cells are ADE2, HIS3, LEU2, LYS2, MET3, TRP1, and URA3. Selectable markers for use in a filamentous fungal host cell include, but are not limited to, amdS (acetamidase), argB (ornithine carbamoyltransferase), bar (phosphinothricin acetyltransferase), hygB (hygromycin phosphotransferase), niaD (nitrate reductase), pyrG (orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfate adenyltransferase), trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well as equivalents thereof. Preferred for use in an Aspergillus cell are the amdS and pyrG genes of Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae and the bar gene of Streptomyces hygroscopicus.

The vectors of the present invention preferably contain an element(s) that permits stable integration of the vector into the host cell's genome or autonomous replication of the vector in the cell independent of the genome.

For integration into the host cell genome, the vector may rely on the nucleic acid sequence encoding the polypeptide or any other element of the vector for stable integration of the vector into the genome by homologous or nonhomologous recombination. Alternatively, the vector may contain additional nucleic acid sequences for directing integration by homologous recombination into the genome of the host cell. The additional nucleic acid sequences enable the vector to be integrated into the host cell genome at a precise location(s) in the chromosome(s). To increase the likelihood of integration at a precise location, the integrational elements should preferably contain a sufficient number of nucleic acids, such as 100 to 1,500 base pairs, preferably 400 to 1,500 base pairs, and most preferably 800 to 1,500 base pairs, which are highly homologous with the corresponding target sequence to enhance the probability of homologous recombination. The integrational elements may be any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in the genome of the host cell. Furthermore, the integrational elements may be non-encoding or encoding nucleic acid sequences. On the other hand, the vector may be integrated into the genome of the host cell by non-homologous recombination.

For autonomous replication, the vector may further comprise an origin of replication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the host cell in question. Examples of bacterial origins of replication are the origins of replication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184 permitting replication in E. coli, and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMβ1 permitting replication in Bacillus. Examples of origins of replication for use in a yeast host cell are the 2 micron origin of replication, ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 and CEN3, and the combination of ARS4 and CEN6. The origin of replication may be one having a mutation which makes it functioning temperature-sensitive in the host cell (see, e.g., Ehrlich, 1978, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 75: 1433).

More than one copy of a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention may be inserted into the host cell to increase production of the gene product. An increase in the copy number of the nucleic acid sequence can be obtained by integrating at least one additional copy of the sequence into the host cell genome or by including an amplifiable selectable marker gene with the nucleic acid sequence where cells containing amplified copies of the selectable marker gene, and thereby additional copies of the nucleic acid sequence, can be selected for by cultivating the cells in the presence of the appropriate selectable agent.

The procedures used to ligate the elements described above to construct the recombinant expression vectors of the present invention are well known to one skilled in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

The protease may also be co-expressed together with at least one other enzyme of interest for animal feed, such as an amylase, for example alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), phytase (EC 3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26); xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89); alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4.−.−), phospholipase Al (EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4); lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3); phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); and/or beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or EC 3.2.1.6).

The enzymes may be co-expressed from different vectors, from one vector, or using a mixture of both techniques. When using different vectors, the vectors may have different selectable markers, and different origins of replication. When using only one vector, the genes can be expressed from one or more promoters. If cloned under the regulation of one promoter (di- or multi-cistronic), the order in which the genes are cloned may affect the expression levels of the proteins. The protease may also be expressed as a fusion protein, i.e. that the gene encoding the protease has been fused in frame to the gene encoding another protein. This protein may be another enzyme or a functional domain from another enzyme.

Host Cells

The present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprising a nucleic acid sequence of the invention, which are advantageously used in the recombinant production of the polypeptides. A vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence of the present invention is introduced into a host cell so that the vector is maintained as a chromosomal integrant or as a self-replicating extra-chromosomal vector as described earlier. The term “host cell” encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due to mutations that occur during replication. The choice of a host cell will to a large extent depend upon the gene encoding the polypeptide and its source.

The host cell may be a unicellular microorganism, e.g., a prokaryote, or a non-unicellular microorganism, e.g., a eukaryote.

Useful unicellular cells are bacterial cells such as gram positive bacteria including, but not limited to, a Bacillus cell, or a Streptomyces cell, or cells of lactic acid bacteria; or gram negative bacteria such as E. coli and Pseudomonas sp. Lactic acid bacteria include, but are not limited to, species of the genera Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Streptococcus, Pediococcus, and Enterococcus.

The introduction of a vector into a bacterial host cell may, for instance, be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang and Cohen, 1979, Molecular General Genetics 168: 111-115), using competent cells (see, e.g., Young and Spizizin, 1961, Journal of Bacteriology 81: 823-829, or Dubnau and Davidoff-Abelson, 1971, Journal of Molecular Biology 56: 209-221), electroporation (see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower, 1988, Biotechniques 6: 742-751), or conjugation (see, e.g., Koehler and Thorne, 1987, Journal of Bacteriology 169: 5771-5278).

The host cell may be a eukaryote, such as a non-human animal cell, an insect cell, a plant cell, or a fungal cell.

In one particular embodiment, the host cell is a fungal cell. “Fungi” as used herein includes the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of The Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CAB International, University Press, Cambridge, UK) as well as the Oomycota (as cited in Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra, page 171) and all mitosporic fungi (Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra).

In another particular embodiment, the fungal host cell is a yeast cell. “Yeast” as used herein includes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales), basidiosporogenous yeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti (Blastomycetes). Since the classification of yeast may change in the future, for the purposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined as described in Biology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, F. A., Passmore, S. M., and Davenport, R. R., eds, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium Series No. 9, 1980).

The yeast host cell may be a Candida, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia cell.

The fungal host cell may be a filamentous fungal cell. “Filamentous fungi” include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota and Oomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra). The filamentous fungi are characterized by a mycelial wall composed of chitin, cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides. Vegetative growth is by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism is obligately aerobic. In contrast, vegetative growth by yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is by budding of a unicellular thallus and carbon catabolism may be fermentative.

Examples of filamentous fungal host cells are cells of species of, but not limited to, Acremonium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Humicola, Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neurospora, Penicillium, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, or Trichoderma.

Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplast formation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of the cell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures for transformation of Aspergillus host cells are described in EP 238 023 and Yelton et al., 1984, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 81: 1470-1474. Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species are described by Malardier et al., 1989, Gene 78: 147-156 and WO 96/00787. Yeast may be transformed using the procedures described by Becker and Guarente, In Abelson, J. N. and Simon, M. I., editors, Guide to Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, Methods in Enzymology, Volume 194, pp 182-187, Academic Press, Inc., New York; Ito et al., 1983, Journal of Bacteriology 153: 163; and Hinnen et al., 1978, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 75: 1920.

Methods of Production The present invention also relates to methods for producing a polypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a strain, which in its wild-type form is capable of producing the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide. Preferably, the strain is of the genus Nocardiopsis, more preferably Nocardiopsis prasina, Nocardiopsis antarctica, Nocardiopsis dassonvillei or Nocardiopsis alba, most preferably Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647, or Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing a polypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a host cell under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing a polypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a host cell under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein the host cell comprises a mutant nucleic acid sequence comprising at least one mutation in nucleotides 502-1065, or 1-1065, of SEQ ID NO: 1, or in nucleotides 1-1143, 88-1143, preferably 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, in which the mutant nucleic acid sequence encodes a polypeptide which (i) consists of amino acids 1 to 188, or -167 to 188, of SEQ ID NO: 2, or amino acids -160 to 192, preferably 1-192, of SEQ ID NO: 6, or (ii) is a variant of any of the sequences of (i), wherein the variant comprises a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more amino acids, or (iii) is an allelic variant of any of the sequences of (i), or (iv) is a fragment of any of the sequences of (i).

In the production methods of the present invention, the cells are cultivated in a nutrient medium suitable for production of the polypeptide using methods known in the art. For example, the cell may be cultivated by shake flask cultivation, small-scale or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch, fed-batch, or solid state fermentations) in laboratory or industrial fermentors performed in a suitable medium and under conditions allowing the polypeptide to be expressed and/or isolated. The cultivation takes place in a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogen sources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitable media are available from commercial suppliers or may be prepared according to published compositions (e.g., in catalogues of the American Type Culture Collection). If the polypeptide is secreted into the nutrient medium, the polypeptide can be recovered directly from the medium. If the polypeptide is not secreted, it can be recovered from cell lysates.

The polypeptides may be detected using methods known in the art that are specific for the polypeptides. These detection methods may include use of specific antibodies, formation of a product, or disappearance of a substrate. For example, a protease assay may be used to determine the activity of the polypeptide as described herein.

The resulting polypeptide may be recovered by methods known in the art. For example, the polypeptide may be recovered from the nutrient medium by conventional procedures including, but not limited to, centrifugation, filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, or precipitation.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be purified by a variety of procedures known in the art including, but not limited to, chromatography (e.g., ion exchange, affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion), electrophoretic procedures (e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing), differential solubility (e.g., ammonium sulphate precipitation), SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g., Protein Purification, J.-C. Janson and Lars Ryden, editors VCH Publishers, New York, 1989).

Plants

The present invention also relates to a transgenic plant, plant part, or plant cell which has been transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having protease activity of the present invention so as to express and produce the polypeptide in recoverable quantities. The polypeptide may be recovered from the plant or plant part. Alternatively, the plant or plant part containing the recombinant polypeptide may be used as such for improving the quality of a food or feed, e.g., improving nutritional value, palatability, and rheological properties, or to destroy an antinutritive factor.

In a particular embodiment, the polypeptide is targeted to the endosperm storage vacuoles in seeds. This can be obtained by synthesizing it as a precursor with a suitable signal peptide, see Horvath et al in PNAS, Feb. 15, 2000, vol. 97, no. 4, p.1914-1919.

The transgenic plant can be dicotyledonous (a dicot) or monocotyledonous (a monocot) or engineered variants thereof. Examples of monocot plants are grasses, such as meadow grass (blue grass, Poa), forage grass such as Festuca, Lolium, temperate grass, such as Agrostis, and cereals, e.g., wheat, oats, rye, barley, rice, sorghum, triticale (stabilized hybrid of wheat (Triticum) and rye (Secale), and maize (corn). Examples of dicot plants are tobacco, legumes, such as lupins, potato, sugar beet, pea, bean and soybean, and cruciferous plants (family Brassicaceae), such as sunflower (Helianthus), cotton (Gossypium), cauliflower, rape seed, and the closely related model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Low-phytate plants as described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,054 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,168 are examples of engineered plants.

Examples of plant parts are stem, callus, leaves, root, fruits, seeds, and tubers, as well as the individual tissues comprising these parts, e.g. epidermis, mesophyll, parenchyma, vascular tissues, meristems. Also specific plant cell compartments, such as chloroplast, apoplast, mitochondria, vacuole, peroxisomes, and cytoplasm are considered to be a plant part. Furthermore, any plant cell, whatever the tissue origin, is considered to be a plant part. Likewise, plant parts such as specific tissues and cells isolated to facilitate the utilisation of the invention are also considered plant parts, e.g. embryos, endosperms, aleurone and seed coats.

Also included within the scope of the present invention are the progeny of such plants, plant parts and plant cells.

The transgenic plant or plant cell expressing a polypeptide of the present invention may be constructed in accordance with methods known in the art. Briefly, the plant or plant cell is constructed by incorporating one or more expression constructs encoding a polypeptide of the present invention into the plant host genome and propagating the resulting modified plant or plant cell into a transgenic plant or plant cell.

Conveniently, the expression construct is a nucleic acid construct which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention operably linked with appropriate regulatory sequences required for expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant or plant part of choice. Furthermore, the expression construct may comprise a selectable marker useful for identifying host cells into which the expression construct has been integrated and DNA sequences necessary for introduction of the construct into the plant in question (the latter depends on the DNA introduction method to be used).

The choice of regulatory sequences, such as promoter and terminator sequences and optionally signal or transit sequences are determined, for example, on the basis of when, where, and how the polypeptide is desired to be expressed. For instance, the expression of the gene encoding a polypeptide of the present invention may be constitutive or inducible, or may be developmental, stage or tissue specific, and the gene product may be targeted to a specific tissue or plant part such as seeds or leaves. Regulatory sequences are, for example, described by Tague et al., 1988, Plant Physiology 86: 506.

For constitutive expression, the following promoters may be used: The 35S-CaMV promoter (Franck et al., 1980, Cell 21: 285-294), the maize ubiquitin 1 (Christensen A H, Sharrock R A and Quail 1992. Maize polyubiquitin genes: structure, thermal perturbation of expression and transcript splicing, and promoter activity following transfer to protoplasts by electroporation), or the rice actin 1 promoter (Plant Mo. Biol. 18, 675-689.; Zhang W, McElroy D. and Wu R 1991, Analysis of rice Act15′ region activity in transgenic rice plants. Plant Cell 3, 1155-1165). Organ-specific promoters may be, for example, a promoter from storage sink tissues such as seeds, potato tubers, and fruits (Edwards & Coruzzi, 1990, Ann. Rev. Genet. 24: 275-303), or from metabolic sink tissues such as meristems (Ito et al., 1994, Plant Mol. Biol. 24: 863-878), a seed specific promoter such as the glutelin, prolamin, globulin, or albumin promoter from rice (Wu et al., 1998, Plant and Cell Physiology 39: 885-889), a Vicia faba promoter from the legumin B4 and the unknown seed protein gene from Vicia faba (Conrad et al., 1998, Journal of Plant Physiology 152: 708-711), a promoter from a seed oil body protein (Chen et al., 1998, Plant and Cell Physiology 39: 935-941), the storage protein napA promoter from Brassica napus, or any other seed specific promoter known in the art, e.g., as described in WO 91/14772. Furthermore, the promoter may be a leaf specific promoter such as the rbcs promoter from rice or tomato (Kyozuka et al., 1993, Plant Physiology 102: 991-1000, the chlorella virus adenine methyltransferase gene promoter (Mitra and Higgins, 1994, Plant Molecular Biology 26: 85-93), or the aldP gene promoter from rice (Kagaya et al., 1995, Molecular and General Genetics 248: 668-674), or a wound inducible promoter such as the potato pin2 promoter (Xu et al., 1993, Plant Molecular Biology 22: 573-588). Likewise, the promoter may be inducible by abiotic treatments such as temperature, drought or alterations in salinity or inducible by exogenously applied substances that activate the promoter, e.g. ethanol, oestrogens, plant hormones like ethylene, abscisic acid, gibberellic acid, and/or heavy metals.

A promoter enhancer element may also be used to achieve higher expression of the protease in the plant. For instance, the promoter enhancer element may be an intron which is placed between the promoter and the nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide of the present invention. For instance, Xu et al., 1993, supra disclose the use of the first intron of the rice actin 1 gene to enhance expression.

Still further, the codon usage may be optimized for the plant species in question to improve expression (see Horvath et al referred to above).

The selectable marker gene and any other parts of the expression construct may be chosen from those available in the art.

The nucleic acid construct is incorporated into the plant genome according to conventional techniques known in the art, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, virus-mediated transformation, microinjection, particle bombardment, biolistic transformation, and electroporation (Gasser et al., 1990, Science 244: 1293; Potrykus, 1990, Bio/Technology 8: 535; Shimamoto et al., 1989, Nature 338: 274).

Presently, Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer is the method of choice for generating transgenic dicots (for a review, see Hooykas and Schilperoort, 1992, Plant Molecular Biology 19: 15-38), and it can also be used for transforming monocots, although other transformation methods are generally preferred for these plants. Presently, the method of choice for generating transgenic monocots, supplementing the Agrobacterium approach, is particle bombardment (microscopic gold or tungsten particles coated with the transforming DNA) of embryonic calli or developing embryos (Christou, 1992, Plant Journal 2: 275-281; Shimamoto, 1994, Current Opinion Biotechnology 5: 158-162; Vasil et al., 1992, Bio/Technology 10: 667-674). An alternative method for transformation of monocots is based on protoplast transformation as described by Omirulleh et al., 1993, Plant Molecular Biology 21: 415-428.

Following transformation, the transformants having incorporated therein the expression construct are selected and regenerated into whole plants according to methods well-known in the art.

The present invention also relates to methods for producing a polypeptide of the present invention comprising (a) cultivating a transgenic plant or a plant cell comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having protease activity of the present invention under conditions conducive for production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.

Animals

The present invention also relates to a transgenic, non-human animal and products or elements thereof, examples of which are body fluids such as milk and blood, organs, flesh, and animal cells. Techniques for expressing proteins, e.g. in mammalian cells, are known in the art, see e.g. the handbook Protein Expression: A Practical Approach, Higgins and Hames (eds), Oxford University Press (1999), and the three other handbooks in this series relating to Gene Transcription, RNA processing, and Post-translational Processing. Generally speaking, to prepare a transgenic animal, selected cells of a selected animal are transformed with a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide having protease activity of the present invention so as to express and produce the polypeptide. The polypeptide may be recovered from the animal, e.g. from the milk of female animals, or the polypeptide may be expressed to the benefit of the animal itself, e.g. to assist the animal's digestion. Examples of animals are mentioned below in the section headed Animal Feed.

To produce a transgenic animal with a view to recovering the protease from the milk of the animal, a gene encoding the protease may be inserted into the fertilized eggs of an animal in question, e.g. by use of a transgene expression vector which comprises a suitable milk protein promoter, and the gene encoding the protease. The transgene expression vector is microinjected into fertilized eggs, and preferably permanently integrated into the chromosome. Once the egg begins to grow and divide, the potential embryo is implanted into a surrogate mother, and animals carrying the transgene are identified. The resulting animal can then be multiplied by conventional breeding. The polypeptide may be purified from the animal's milk, see e.g. Meade, H. M. et al (1999): Expression of recombinant proteins in the milk of transgenic animals, Gene expression systems: Using nature for the art of expression. J. M. Fernandez and J. P. Hoeffler (eds.), Academic Press.

In the alternative, in order to produce a transgenic non-human animal that carries in the genome of its somatic and/or germ cells a nucleic acid sequence including a heterologous transgene construct including a transgene encoding the protease, the transgene may be operably linked to a first regulatory sequence for salivary gland specific expression of the protease, as disclosed in WO 2000/064247.

Compositions

In a still further aspect, the present invention relates to compositions comprising a polypeptide of the present invention.

The polypeptide compositions may be prepared in accordance with methods known in the art and may be in the form of a liquid or a dry composition. For instance, the polypeptide composition may be in the form of a granulate or a microgranulate. The polypeptide to be included in the composition may be stabilized in accordance with methods known in the art.

Examples are given below of preferred uses of the polypeptides or polypeptide compositions of the invention.

Animal Feed The present invention is also directed to methods for using the polypeptides of the invention in animal feed, as well as to feed compositions and feed additives comprising the polypeptides of the invention.

The term animal includes all animals, including human beings. Examples of animals are non-ruminants, and ruminants. Ruminant animals include, for example, animals such as sheep, goats, horses, and cattle, e.g. beef cattle, cows, and young calves. In a particular embodiment, the animal is a non-ruminant animal. Non-ruminant animals include mono-gastric animals, e.g. pigs or swine (including, but not limited to, piglets, growing pigs, and sows); poultry such as turkeys, ducks and chicken (including but not limited to broiler chicks, layers); young calves; and fish (including but not limited to salmon, trout, tilapia, catfish and carps; and crustaceans (including but not limited to shrimps and prawns).

The term feed or feed composition means any compound, preparation, mixture, or composition suitable for, or intended for intake by an animal.

In the use according to the invention the protease can be fed to the animal before, after, or simultaneously with the diet. The latter is preferred.

In a particular embodiment, the protease, in the form in which it is added to the feed, or when being included in a feed additive, is well-defined. Well-defined means that the protease preparation is at least 50% pure as determined by Size-exclusion chromatography (see Example 12 of WO 01/58275). In other particular embodiments the protease preparation is at least 60, 70, 80, 85, 88, 90, 92, 94, or at least 95% pure as determined by this method.

A well-defined protease preparation is advantageous. For instance, it is much easier to dose correctly to the feed a protease that is essentially free from interfering or contaminating other proteases. The term dose correctly refers in particular to the objective of obtaining consistent and constant results, and the capability of optimising dosage based upon the desired effect.

For the use in animal feed, however, the protease need not be that pure; it may e.g. include other enzymes, in which case it could be termed a protease preparation.

The protease preparation can be (a) added directly to the feed (or used directly in a treatment process of proteins), or (b) it can be used in the production of one or more intermediate compositions such as feed additives or premixes that is subsequently added to the feed (or used in a treatment process). The degree of purity described above refers to the purity of the original protease preparation, whether used according to (a) or (b) above.

Protease preparations with purities of this order of magnitude are in particular obtainable using recombinant methods of production, whereas they are not so easily obtained and also subject to a much higher batch-to-batch variation when the protease is produced by traditional fermentation methods.

Such protease preparation may of course be mixed with other enzymes.

In a particular embodiment, the protease for use according to the invention is capable of solubilising proteins. A suitable assay for determining solubilised protein is disclosed in Example 5.

The protein may be an animal protein, such as meat and bone meal, and/or fish meal; or it may be a vegetable protein. The term vegetable proteins as used herein refers to any compound, composition, preparation or mixture that includes at least one protein derived from or originating from a vegetable, including modified proteins and protein-derivatives. In particular embodiments, the protein content of the vegetable proteins is at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60% (w/w).

Vegetable proteins may be derived from vegetable protein sources, such as legumes and cereals, for example materials from plants of the families Fabaceae (Leguminosae), Cruciferaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Poaceae, such as soy bean meal, lupin meal and rapeseed meal.

In a particular embodiment, the vegetable protein source is material from one or more plants of the family Fabaceae, e.g. soybean, lupine, pea, or bean.

In another particular embodiment, the vegetable protein source is material from one or more plants of the family Chenopodiaceae, e.g. beet, sugar beet, spinach or quinoa.

Other examples of vegetable protein sources are rapeseed, sunflower seed, cotton seed, and cabbage.

Soybean is a preferred vegetable protein source.

Other examples of vegetable protein sources are cereals such as barley, wheat, rye, oat, maize (corn), rice, triticale, and sorghum.

The treatment according to the invention of proteins with at least one protease of the invention results in an increased solubilisation of proteins.

The following are examples of % solubilised protein obtainable using the proteases of the invention in a monogastric in vitro model: At least 101%, or at least 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, or at least 107%, relative to a blank. The percentage of solubilised protein is determined using the monogastric in vitro model of Example 5. The term solubilisation of proteins basically means bringing protein(s) into solution. Such solubilisation may be due to protease-mediated release of protein from other components of the usually complex natural compositions such as feed.

In a further particular embodiment, the protease for use according to the invention is capable of increasing the amount of digestible proteins. The following are examples of % digested or digestible protein obtainable using the proteases of the invention in a monogastric in vitro model: At least 101%, or at least 102%, relative to a blank. The percentage of digested or digestible protein is determined using the in vitro model of Example 5.

In a still further particular embodiment, the protease for use according to the invention is capable of increasing the Degree of Hydrolysis (DH) of proteins. In a particular embodiment, the degree of hydrolysis is at least 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, or at least 105%, relative to a blank. The degree of hydrolysis is determined using the in vitro model of Example 5.

In a particular embodiment of a (pre-) treatment process of the invention, the protease(s) in question is affecting (or acting on, or exerting its solubilising influence on) the proteins or protein sources. To achieve this, the protein or protein source is typically suspended in a solvent, e.g. an aqueous solvent such as water, and the pH and temperature values are adjusted paying due regard to the characteristics of the enzyme in question. For example, the treatment may take place at a pH-value at which the activity of the actual protease is at least at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or at least 90%. Likewise, for example, the treatment may take place at a temperature at which the activity of the actual protease is at least 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or at least 90%. The above percentage activity indications are relative to the maximum activities. The enzymatic reaction is continued until the desired result is achieved, following which it may or may not be stopped by inactivating the enzyme, e.g. by a heat-treatment step.

In another particular embodiment of a treatment process of the invention, the protease action is sustained, meaning e.g. that the protease is added to the proteins or protein sources, but its solubilising influence is so to speak not switched on until later when desired, once suitable solubilising conditions are established, or once any enzyme inhibitors are inactivated, or whatever other means could have been applied to postpone the action of the enzyme.

In one embodiment the treatment is a pre-treatment of animal feed or proteins for use in animal feed.

The term improving the nutritional value of an animal feed means improving the availability and/or digestibility of the proteins, thereby leading to increased protein extraction from the diet components, higher protein yields, increased protein degradation and/or improved protein utilisation. The nutritional value of the feed is therefore increased, and the animal performance such as growth rate and/or weight gain and/or feed conversion ratio (i.e. the weight of ingested feed relative to weight gain) of the animal is/are improved.

In a particular embodiment the feed conversion ratio is increased by at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9% or at least10%. In a further particular embodiment the weight gain is increased by at least 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10% or at least 11%. These figures are relative to control experiments with no protease addition.

The feed conversion ratio (FCR) and the weight gain may be calculated as described in EEC (1986): Directive de la Commission du 9 avril 1986 fixant la méthode de calcul de la valeur énérgetique des aliments composés destinés à la volaille. Journal Officiel des Communautés Européennes, L1 30, 53-54.

The protease can be added to the feed in any form, be it as a relatively pure protease, or in admixture with other components intended for addition to animal feed, i.e. in the form of animal feed additives, such as the so-called pre-mixes for animal feed.

In a further aspect the present invention relates to compositions for use in animal feed, such as animal feed, and animal feed additives, e.g. premixes.

Apart from the protease of the invention, the animal feed additives of the invention contain at least one fat-soluble vitamin, and/or at least one water soluble vitamin, and/or at least one trace mineral. The feed additive may also contain at least one macro mineral.

Further, optional, feed-additive ingredients are colouring agents, e.g. carotenoids such as beta-carotene, astaxanthin, and lutein; aroma compounds; stabilisers; antimicrobial peptides; polyunsaturated fatty acids; reactive oxygen generating species; and/or at least one other enzyme selected from amongst amylase such as, for example, amylase such as alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1), phytase (EC 3.1.3.8 or 3.1.3.26); xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8); galactanase (EC 3.2.1.89); alpha-galactosidase (EC 3.2.1.22); protease (EC 3.4.−.−), phospholipase A1 (EC 3.1.1.32); phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4); lysophospholipase (EC 3.1.1.5); phospholipase C (3.1.4.3); phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4); and/or beta-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.4 or EC 3.2.1.6).

In a particular embodiment these other enzymes are well-defined (as defined above for protease preparations).

Examples of antimicrobial peptides (AMP's) are CAP18, Leucocin A, Tritrpticin, Protegrin-1, Thanatin, Defensin, Lactoferrin, Lactoferricin, and Ovispirin such as Novispirin (Robert Lehrer, 2000), Plectasins, and Statins, including the compounds and polypeptides disclosed in WO 03/044049 and WO 03/048148, as well as variants or fragments of the above that retain antimicrobial activity.

Examples of antifungal polypeptides (AFP's) are the Aspergillus giganteus, and Aspergillus niger peptides, as well as variants and fragments thereof which retain antifungal activity, as disclosed in WO 94/01459 and WO 02/090384.

Examples of polyunsaturated fatty acids are C18, C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, docosohexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and gamma-linoleic acid.

Examples of reactive oxygen generating species are chemicals such as perborate, persulphate, or percarbonate; and enzymes such as an oxidase, an oxygenase or a syntethase.

Usally fat- and water-soluble vitamins, as well as trace minerals form part of a so-called premix intended for addition to the feed, whereas macro minerals are usually separately added to the feed. A premix enriched with a protease of the invention, is an example of an animal feed additive of the invention.

In a particular embodiment, the animal feed additive of the invention is intended for being included (or prescribed as having to be included) in animal diets or feed at levels of 0.01 to 10.0%; more particularly 0.05 to 5.0%; or 0.2 to 1.0% (% meaning g additive per 100 g feed). This is so in particular for premixes.

The following are non-exclusive lists of examples of these components:

Examples of fat-soluble vitamins are vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, and vitamin K, e.g. vitamin K3.

Examples of water-soluble vitamins are vitamin B12, biotin and choline, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, niacin, folic acid and panthothenate, e.g. Ca-D-panthothenate.

Examples of trace minerals are manganese, zinc, iron, copper, iodine, selenium, and cobalt.

Examples of macro minerals are calcium, phosphorus and sodium.

The nutritional requirements of these components (exemplified with poultry and piglets/pigs) are listed in Table A of WO 01/58275. Nutritional requirement means that these components should be provided in the diet in the concentrations indicated.

In the alternative, the animal feed additive of the invention comprises at least one of the individual components specified in Table A of WO 01/58275. At least one means either of, one or more of, one, or two, or three, or four and so forth up to all thirteen, or up to all fifteen individual components. More specifically, this at least one individual component is included in the additive of the invention in such an amount as to provide an in-feed-concentration within the range indicated in column four, or column five, or column six of Table A.

The present invention also relates to animal feed compositions. Animal feed compositions or diets have a relatively high content of protein. Poultry and pig diets can be characterised as indicated in Table B of WO 01/58275, columns 2-3. Fish diets can be characterised as indicated in column 4 of this Table B. Furthermore such fish diets usually have a crude fat content of 200-310 g/kg. WO 01/58275 corresponds to US 09/77334 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

An animal feed composition according to the invention has a crude protein content of 50-800 g/kg, and furthermore comprises at least one protease as claimed herein.

Furthermore, or in the alternative (to the crude protein content indicated above), the animal feed composition of the invention has a content of metabolisable energy of 10-30 MJ/kg; and/or a content of calcium of 0.1-200 g/kg; and/or a content of available phosphorus of 0.1-200 g/kg; and/or a content of methionine of 0.1-100 g/kg; and/or a content of methionine plus cysteine of 0.1-150 g/kg; and/or a content of lysine of 0.5-50 g/kg.

In particular embodiments, the content of metabolisable energy, crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, methionine, methionine plus cysteine, and/or lysine is within any one of ranges 2, 3, 4 or 5 in Table B of WO 01/58275 (R. 2-5).

Crude protein is calculated as nitrogen (N) multiplied by a factor 6.25, i.e. Crude protein (g/kg)=N (g/kg)×6.25. The nitrogen content is determined by the Kjeldahl method (A.O.A.C., 1984, Official Methods of Analysis 14th ed., Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington D.C.).

Metabolisable energy can be calculated on the basis of the NRC publication Nutrient requirements in swine, ninth revised edition 1988, subcommittee on swine nutrition, committee on animal nutrition, board of agriculture, national research council. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., pp. 2-6, and the European Table of Energy Values for Poultry Feed-stuffs, Spelderholt centre for poultry research and extension, 7361 DA Beekbergen, The Netherlands. Grafisch bedrijf Ponsen & looijen bv, Wageningen. ISBN 90-71463-12-5.

The dietary content of calcium, available phosphorus and amino acids in complete animal diets is calculated on the basis of feed tables such as Veevoedertabel 1997, gegevens over chemische samenstelling, verteerbaarheid en voederwaarde van voedermiddelen, Central Veevoederbureau, Runderweg 6, 8219 pk Lelystad. ISBN 90-72839-13-7.

In a particular embodiment, the animal feed composition of the invention contains at least one protein or protein source as defined above. It may also contain animal protein, such as Meat and Bone Meal, and/or Fish Meal, typically in an amount of 0-25%.

In still further particular embodiments, the animal feed composition of the invention contains 0-80% maize; and/or 0-80% sorghum; and/or 0-70% wheat; and/or 0-70% Barley; and/or 0-30% oats; and/or 0-40% soybean meal; and/or 0-25% fish meal; 0-25% meat and bone meal; and/or 0-20% whey.

Animal diets can e.g. be manufactured as mash feed (non pelleted) or pelleted feed. Typically, the milled feed-stuffs are mixed and sufficient amounts of essential vitamins and minerals are added according to the specifications for the species in question. Enzymes can be added as solid or liquid enzyme formulations. For example, a solid enzyme formulation is typically added before or during the mixing step; and a liquid enzyme preparation is typically added after the pelleting step. The enzyme may also be incorporated in a feed additive or premix.

The final enzyme concentration in the diet is within the range of 0.01-200 mg enzyme protein per kg diet, for example in the range of 0.5-25 mg enzyme protein per kg animal diet.

The protease should of course be applied in an effective amount, i.e. in an amount adequate for improving solubilisation and/or improving nutritional value of feed. It is at present contemplated that the enzyme is administered in one or more of the following amounts (dosage ranges): 0.01-200; 0.01-100; 0.5-100; 1-50; 5-100; 10-100; 0.05-50; or 0.10-10—all these ranges being in mg protease enzyme protein per kg feed (ppm).

For determining mg enzyme protein per kg feed, the protease is purified from the feed composition, and the specific activity of the purified protease is determined using a relevant assay (see under protease activity, substrates, and assays). The protease activity of the feed composition as such is also determined using the same assay, and on the basis of these two determinations, the dosage in mg enzyme protein per kg feed is calculated.

The same principles apply for determining mg enzyme protein in feed additives. Of course, if a sample is available of the protease used for preparing the feed additive or the feed, the specific activity is determined from this sample (no need to purify the protease from the feed composition or the additive).

The present invention is further described by the following examples which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Detergent Compositions

The protease of the invention may be added to and thus become a component of a detergent composition.

The detergent composition of the invention may for example be formulated as a hand or machine laundry detergent composition including a laundry additive composition suitable for pre-treatment of stained fabrics and a rinse added fabric softener composition, or be formulated as a detergent composition for use in general household hard surface cleaning operations, or be formulated for hand or machine dishwashing operations.

In a specific aspect, the invention provides a detergent additive comprising the protease of the invention. The detergent additive as well as the detergent composition may comprise one or more other enzymes such as another protease, such as alkaline proteases from Bacillus, a lipase, a cutinase, an amylase, a carbohydrase, a cellulase, a pectinase, a mannanase, an arabinase, a galactanase, a xylanase, an oxidase, e.g., a laccase, and/or a peroxidase.

In general the properties of the chosen enzyme(s) should be compatible with the selected detergent, (i.e. pH-optimum, compatibility with other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and the enzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

Suitable lipases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful lipases include lipases from Humicola (synonym Thermomyces), e.g. from H. lanuginosa (T. lanuginosus) as described in EP 258068 and EP 305216 or from H. insolens as described in WO 96/13580, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g. from P. alcaligenes or P. pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218272), P. cepacia (EP 331376), P. stutzeri (GB 1,372,034), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705 (WO 95/06720 and WO 96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO 96/12012), a Bacillus lipase, e.g. from B. subtilis (Dartois et al. (1993), Biochemica et Biophysica Acta, 1131, 253-360), B. stearothermophilus (JP 64/744992) or B. pumilus (WO 91/16422). Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in WO 92/05249, WO 94/01541, EP 407225, EP 260105, WO 95/35381, WO 96/00292, WO 95/30744, WO 94/25578, WO 95/14783, WO 95/22615, WO 97/04079 and WO 97/07202. Preferred commercially available lipase enzymes include Lipolase™ and Lipolase Ultra™0 (Novozymes A/S).

Suitable amylases (alpha- and/or beta-) include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Amylases include, for example, alpha-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g. a special strain of B. licheniformis, described in more detail in GB 1,296,839. Examples of useful amylases are the variants described in WO 94/02597, WO 94/18314, WO 95/26397, WO 96/23873, WO 97/43424, WO 00/60060, and WO 01/66712, especially the variants with substitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105, 106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208, 209, 243, 264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444. Commercially available amylases are Natalase™, SupraMyl™, Stainzyme™, Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Fungamyl™ and BAN™ (Novozymes A/S), Rapidase™ and Purastar™ (from Genencor International Inc.).

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitable cellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g. the fungal cellulases produced from Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusarium oxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,263, U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,178, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,757 and WO 89/09259. Especially suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulases having colour care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulases described in EP 0 495257, EP 531372, WO 96/11262, WO 96/29397, WO 98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those described in WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat No. 5,457,046, U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,593, U.S. Pat. No.5,763,254, WO 95/24471, WO 98/12307 and WO 99/01544. Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme™, and Carezyme™ (Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™, and Puradax HA™ (Genencor International Inc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial or fungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases from Coprinus, e.g. from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as those described in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257. Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ (Novozymes).

The detergent enzyme(s) may be included in a detergent composition by adding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding a combined additive comprising all of these enzymes. A detergent additive of the invention, i.e. a separate additive or a combined additive, can be formulated e.g. as a granulate, a liquid, a slurry, etc. Preferred detergent additive formulations are granulates, in particular non-dusting granulates, liquids, in particular stabilized liquids, or slurries.

Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,106,991 and 4,661,452 and may optionally be coated by methods known in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are poly(ethylene oxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of 1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethylene oxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol contains from 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethylene oxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- and triglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materials suitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB 1483591. Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized by adding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid or boric acid according to established methods. Protected enzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238216.

The detergent composition of the invention may be in any convenient form, e.g., a bar, a tablet, a powder, a granule, a paste or a liquid. A liquid detergent may be aqueous, typically containing up to 70% water and 0-30% organic solvent, or non-aqueous.

The detergent composition comprises one or more surfactants, which may be non-ionic including semi-polar and/or anionic and/or cationic and/or zwitterionic. The surfactants are typically present at a level of from 0.1% to 60% by weight.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1% to about 40% of an anionic surfactant such as linear alkylbenzenesulfonate, alpha-olefinsulfonate, alkyl sulfate (fatty alcohol sulfate), alcohol ethoxysulfate, secondary alkanesulfonate, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methyl ester, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid or soap.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.2% to about 40% of a non-ionic surfactant such as alcohol ethoxylate, nonylphenol ethoxylate, alkylpolyglycoside, alkyldimethylamineoxide, ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide, fatty acid monoethanolamide, polyhydroxy alkyl fatty acid amide, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine (“glucamides”).

The detergent may contain 0-65% of a detergent builder or complexing agent such as zeolite, diphosphate, triphosphate, phosphonate, carbonate, citrate, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, soluble silicates or layered silicates (e.g. SKS-6 from Hoechst).

The detergent may comprise one or more polymers. Examples are carboxymethylcellulose, poly(vinylpyrrolidone), poly (ethylene glycol), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyridine-N-oxide), poly(vinylimidazole), polycarboxylates such as polyacrylates, maleic/acrylic acid copolymers and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers.

The detergent may contain a bleaching system which may comprise a H₂O₂ source such as perborate or percarbonate which may be combined with a peracid-forming bleach activator such as tetraacetylethylenediamine or nonanoyloxybenzenesulfonate. Alternatively, the bleaching system may comprise peroxyacids of e.g. the amide, imide, or sulfone type.

The enzyme(s) of the detergent composition of the invention may be stabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such as propylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid, boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester, or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid, and the composition may be formulated as described in e.g. WO 92/19709 and WO 92/19708.

The detergent may also contain other conventional detergent ingredients such as e.g. fabric conditioners including clays, foam boosters, suds suppressors, anti-corrosion agents, soil-suspending agents, anti-soil redeposition agents, dyes, bactericides, optical brighteners, hydrotropes, tarnish inhibitors, or perfumes.

It is at present contemplated that in the detergent compositions any enzyme, in particular the enzyme of the invention, may be added in an amount corresponding to 0.01-100 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liqour, preferably 0.05-5 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liqour, in particular 0.1-1 mg of enzyme protein per liter of wash liqour.

The enzyme of the invention may additionally be incorporated in the detergent formulations disclosed in WO 97/07202.

Deposit of Biological Material

The following biological material, isolated from a soil sample collected in Denmark in 2001, has been deposited under the terms of the Budapest Treaty with the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zelikulturen GmbH, Mascheroder Weg 1b, D-38124 Braunschweig, and given the following accession number: Deposit Accession Number Date of Deposit Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 May 30, 2003

The strain has been deposited under conditions that assure that access to the culture will be available during the pendency of the patent applications to one determined by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. § 122. The deposit represents a substantially pure culture of the deposited strain. The deposit is available as required by foreign patent laws in countries wherein counterparts of these applications, or their progeny are filed. However, it should be understood that the availability of a deposit does not constitute a license to practice the invention in derogation of patent rights granted by governmental action.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodiments are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case of conflict, the present disclosure including definitions will control.

Various references are cited herein, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Cloning and Expression of the Protease Derived from Nocardiopsis Alba DSM 15647

Reagents and Media LB agar Described in Ausubel, F. M. et al. (eds.) “Current protocols in Molecular Biology”. John Wiley and Sons, 1995 LB-PG agar LB agar supplemented with 0.5% Glucose and 0.05 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.0 PS-1 10% sucrose, 4% soybean flour, 1% Na₃PO₄-12H₂O, 0.5% CaCO₃, and 0.01% pluronic acid TE 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4 1 mM EDTA, pH 8.0 TEL 50 mg/ml Lysozym in TE-buffer Thiocyanate 5 M guanidium thiocyanate 100 mM EDTA 0.6% w/v N-laurylsarcosine, sodium salt 60 g thiocyanate, 20 ml 0.5 M EDTA, pH 8.0, 20 ml H₂O dissolves at 65° C. Cool down to room temperature (RT) and add 0.6 g N-laurylsarcosine. Add H₂O to 100 ml and filter it through a 0.2 micron sterile filter. NH₄Ac 7.5 M CH₃COONH₄ TER 1 microgram/ml Rnase A in TE-buffer CIA Chloroform/isoamyl alcohol 24:1 Experimental Procedure

SEQ ID NO: 1 is the DNA sequence encoding a proform of the protease from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647. Nucleotides 502-1065 corresponds to the mature peptide encoding part.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is the deduced amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. Amino acids −167 to −1 is the propeptide, and amino acids 1 to 188 the mature peptide.

Cloning of SEQ ID NO: 1

The wild type was grown for 3 days before harvest in the following medium at 30° C.: Trypticase  20 g Yeast extract   5 g Ferrochloride   6 mg Magnesiumsulfate  15 mg Distilled water ad 1000 ml pH adjusted to 9 by addition of sodium carbonate

Genomic DNA from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 was isolated according to the following procedure:

-   Harvest 1.5 ml culture and resuspend in 100 microliters TEL.     Incubate at 37° C. for 30 min. -   Add 500 microliters thiocynate buffer and leave at room temperature     for 10 min. -   Add 250 microliters NH₄Ac and leave at ice for 10 min. -   Add 500 microliters CIA and mix. -   Transfer to a microcentrifuge and spin for 10 min. at full speed. -   Transfer supernatant to a new Eppendorf tube and add 0.54 volume     cold isopropanol. Mix thoroughly. -   Spin and wash the DNA pellet with 70% EtOH. -   Resuspend the genomic DNA in 100 microliters TER.

The genomic DNA was used as template for PCR amplification using below primers SEQ ID NOs: 3 and 4. The PCR fragment was isolated on a 0.7% agarose gel. Primers: Primers: 1421: 5′-GTT CAT CGA TCG CAT CGG CTG CGA CCG GCC CCC TCC CCC AGT C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 3) 1604: 5′-GCG GAT CCT ATC AGG TGC GCA GGG TCA GAC C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)

The digested and purified PCR fragment was ligated to the Cla I and BamHI digested plasmid pDG268NeoMCS-PramyQ/PrcryIII/cryIIIAstab/Sav (U.S. Pat. No. 5,955,310).

The ligation mixture was used for transformation into E. coli TOP10F′ (Invitrogen BV, The Netherlands) and several colonies were selected for miniprep (QIAprep spin, QIAGEN GmbH, Germany). The purified plasmids were checked for insert before transformation into a strain of Bacillus subtilis derived from B. subtilis DN 1885 with disrupted apr, npr and pel genes (Diderichsen et al (1990), J. Bacteriol., 172, 4315-4321). The disruption was performed essentially as described in “Bacillus subtilis and other Gram-Positive Bacteria,” American Society for Microbiology, p.618, eds. A. L. Sonenshein, J. A. Hoch and Richard Losick (1993). Transformed cells were plated on 1% skim milk LB-PG agar plates, supplemented with 6 micrograms/ml chloramphenicol. The plated cells were incubated over night at 37° C. and protease containing colonies were identified by a surrounding clearing zone. Protease positive colonies were selected and the coding sequence of the expressed enzyme from the expression construct was confirmed by DNA sequence analysis.

Fermentation

The Bacillus subtilis host cell transformed as described above was fermented on a rotary shaking table (250 r.p.m.) in 500 ml baffled Erlenmeyer flasks containing 100 ml PS-1 medium supplemented with 6 micrograms/ml chloramphenicol, at 37° C. for 16 hours and at 26° C. for extra 4 days.

Example 2 Purification and characterization of the Protease from Nocardiopsis Alba DSM 15647.

Protease Assays

-   1) pNA assay: -   pNA substrate: Suc-AAPF-pNA (Bachem L-1400). -   Temperature: Room temperature (25° C.) -   Assay buffers: 100 mM succinic acid, 100 mM HEPES, 100 mM CHES, 100     mM CABS, 1 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM KCl, 0.01% Triton X-100 adjusted to     pH-values 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0,7.0, 8.0, 9.0,     10.0,11.0, and 12.0 with HCl or NaOH.

20 microliters protease (diluted in 0.01% Triton X-100) is mixed with 100μl assay buffer. The assay is started by adding 100 microliters pNA substrate (50 mg dissolved in 1.0 ml DMSO and further diluted 45× with 0.01% Triton X-100). The increase in OD₄₀₅ is monitored as a measure of the protease activity.

-   2) Protazyme AK assay: -   Substrate: Protazyme AK tablet (cross-linked and dyed casein; from     Megazyme) -   Temperature: controlled (assay temperature). -   Assay buffers: 100 mM succinic acid, 100 mM HEPES, 100 mM CHES, 100     mM CABS, 1 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM KCl, 0.01% Triton X-100 adjusted to     pH-values 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0 and     11.0 with HCl or NaOH.

A Protazyme AK tablet is suspended in 2.0 ml 0.01% Triton X-100 by gentle stirring. 500 microliters of this suspension and 500 microliters assay buffer are mixed in an Eppendorf tube and placed on ice. 20 microliters protease sample (diluted in 0.01% Triton X-100) is added. The assay is initiated by transferring the Eppendorf tube to an Eppendorf thermomixer, which is set to the assay temperature. The tube is incubated for 15 minutes on the Eppendorf thermomixer at its highest shaking rate (1400 rpm). The incubation is stopped by transferring the tube back to the ice bath. Then the tube is centrifuged in an icecold centrifuge for a few minutes and 200 microliters supernatant is transferred to a microtiter plate. OD₆₅₀ is read as a measure of protease activity. A buffer blind is included in the assay (instead of enzyme).

The protease fermentation described in Example 1 was centrifuged (20000 ×g, 20 min) and the supernatants were carefully decanted from the precipitates. The combined supernatants were filtered through a Seitz EKS plate in order to remove the rest of the Nocardiopsis cells. The EKS filtrate was transferred to 50 mM H₃BO₃, 5 mM succinic acid, 1 mM CaCl₂, pH 7 on a G25 sephadex column which resulted in a turbid solution. The turbidity was removed by another filtration through a Seitz EKS plate. The clear filtrate was applied to a bacitracin silica column equilibrated in the same buffer. After washing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer, the protease was step-eluted with 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM succinic acid, 2 mM CaCl₂, 1 M NaCl, 25% isopropanol, pH 7. The bacitracin eluate was transferred to 50 mM H₃BO₃, 5 mM succinic acid, 1 mM CaCl₂, pH 7 on a G25 sephadex column and concentrated by ultrafiltration to a minimal volume in an Amicon concentration cell equipped with a 5000Da cut-off membrane. The concentrated enzyme was applied to a Superdex 75 size-exclusion column equilibrated in 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM succinic acid, 2 mM CaCl₂, 200 mM NaCl, pH 7 and the column was eluted with the same buffer. Fractions from the column were analysed for protease activity (using the Protazyme AK assay at 37° C. and pH 9) and active fractions were further analysed by SDS-PAGE. Fractions, where only one band was seen on the coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel, were pooled as the purified preparation and was used for further characterization.

pH-Activity, pH-Stability, and Temperature-Activity

The pNA assay was used for obtaining the pH-activity profile as well as the pH-stability profile. For the pH-stability profile the protease was diluted 10× in the assay buffers and incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. After incubation the protease samples were transferred to the same pH-pH 9, before assay for residual activity, by dilution in the pH 9 assay buffer.

The Protazyme AK assay was used for obtaining the temperature-activity profile at pH 9. The results are shown in Tables 1-3 below. TABLE 1 pH-activity profile Protease derived Protase derived from Nocardiopsis from Nocardiopsis sp. pH alba DSM 15647 NRRL 18262 2 0.00 — 3 0.00 0.00 4 0.01 0.02 5 0.06 0.07 6 0.18 0.21 7 0.37 0.44 8 0.69 0.67 9 0.99 0.88 10 1.00 1.00 11 0.95 0.93

TABLE 2 pH-stability profile Protease Protase derived from derived from Nocardiopsis alba Nocardiopsis sp. pH DSM 15647 NRRL 18262 2.0 1.04 0.78 2.5 1.05 1.00 3.0 1.00 1.03 3.5 1.00 0.98 4.0 0.93 0.99 5.0 1.00 1.02 6.0 1.00 1.00 7.0 1.00 1.01 8.0 1.03 0.98 9.0 1.02 0.99 10.0  0.96 0.99 11.0  0.95 0.86 12.0  0.88 — 9.0 and after 1.00 1.00 2 hours at 5° C.

TABLE 3 Temperature activity profile Protease Protase derived from derived from Temperature Nocardiopsis alba Nocardiopsis sp. (° C.) DSM 15647 NRRL 18262 15 0.02 0.02 25 0.05 0.02 37 0.10 0.07 50 0.27 0.20 60 0.56 0.51 70 1.00 1.00 80 0.49 0.39 90 — —

The protease was found to be inhibited by Phenyl Methyl Sulfonyl Fluoride. Its relative molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE was M_(r)=19 kDa.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) DSC was used to determine temperature stability at pH 7.0 of the protease derived from Nocardiopsis alba and from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262. The purified proteases were dialysed over night at 4° C. against 10 mM sodium phosphate, 50 mM sodium chloride, pH 7.0 and run on a VP-DSC instrument (Micro Cal) with a constant scan rate of 1.5° C./min from 20 to 100° C. Data-handling was performed using the MicroCal Origin software.

The resulting denaturation or melting temperatures, T_(m),'s were: For the protease of the invention derived from Nocardiopsis alba: 78.3° C.; for the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262: 76.5° C.

Example 3 Specific Activity of the Protease from Nocardiopsis Alba DSM 15647

The purified protease preparation described in Example 2 was used for determination of the specific activity. The purity of the preparation was above 95% when analysed by SDS-PAGE (determined as described in Example 2A in WO 01/58275). The protease sample was divided in two. One part was analysed for protein content (mg/ml) by amino acid analysis, the other part was analysed for protease activity.

Amino Acid Analysis (AAA)/(mg/ml)

The peptide bonds of the protease sample were subjected to acid hydrolysis, followed by separation and quantification of the released amino acids on a Biochrom 20 Plus Amino Acid Analyser, commercially available from Bie & Berntsen A/S, Sandbaekvej 5-7, DK-2610 Roedovre, Denmark, according to the manufacturer's instructions. For the acid hydrolysis, the protein sample was dried in a vacuum centrifuge, resolved in 18.5% (vol/vol) HCl+0.1% (vol/vol) phenol and incubated for 16hr at 1 10° C. After incubation, the sample was again dried in the vacuum centrifuge, resolved in loading buffer (0.2 M Na-Citrate, pH 2.2) and loaded onto the Biochrom 20 Plus Amino Acid Analyser.

For the quantification, the hydrolysed sample was loaded onto a column of the cation-exchange resin UltroPac no. 8, Sodium-form, which is commercially available from Bie & Berntsen A/S, catalogue no. 80-2104-15. Buffers of varying pH (pH 1 to pH 8) and ionic strength were pumped through the column according to the manufacturer's instructions referred to above, to separate the various amino acids. The column temperature was accurately controlled, also according to the manufacturer's instructions (from 53° C. to 92° C. and back to 53° C.) in order to ensure the required separation. The column eluent was mixed with ninhydrin reagent (Bie & Berntsen, catalogue no. 80-2038-07) and the mixture passed through the high temperature reaction coil of the Amino Acid Analyser. In the reaction coil, ninhydrin reacted with the amino acids to form coloured compounds, the amount of which was directly proportional to the quantity of amino acid present.

Protease Activity Assay (AU/ml)

Denatured haemoglobin (0.65% (w/w) in 6.7 mM KH₂PO₄/NaOH buffer, pH 7.50) was degraded at 25° C. for 10 minutes by the protease, and undigested haemoglobin was precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and removed by filtration. The TCA-soluble haemoglobin degradation products in the filtrate were determined with Folin & Ciocalteu's phenol reagent, which gives a blue colour with several amino acids. The activity unit (AU) was measured and defined by reference to an ALCALASE™ standard. A detailed description of the assay, as well as a sample of the ALCALASE™ standard, is available on request from Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, DK-2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark (assay no. EB-SM-0349.02/01).

The specific activity was calculated as: Specific activity (AU/g)=(Activity (AU/ml)/AAA (mg/ml))×1000 (mg/g).

The specific activity of the protease derived from Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647 was 53.5 AU/g, as compared to the specific activity of the protease derived from Nocardiopsis sp. NRRL 18262 of 38.3 AU/g.

Example 4 Protease L1a

Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235 was grown in the wild type Trypticase medium, and genomic DNA isolated, as described in Example 1.

The coding region for the pro-mature protease L1a (nucleotides 88-1143 of SEQ ID NO:

-   1) was amplified with the following primers 1424 and 1485 on the     genomic DNA: -   Primer 1485 (SEQ ID NO: 7):     5′-gcttttagttcatcgatcgcatcggctgcgaccgtaccggccgagccag-3′ -   Primer 1424 (SEQ ID NO: 8):     5′-ggagcggattgaacatgcgattactaaccggtcaccagggacagcc-3′

The L1 a polynucleotides were fused, by PCR, in frame to a heterologous DNA fragment encoding a Sav signal peptide (SEQ ID NO: 9).

A Bacillus subtilis strain designated Sav-L1a was constructed by incorporating the gene (including the signal peptide encoding part) by homologous recombination on the Bacillus subtilis MB1053 host cell genome (WO 03/95658). The gene was expressed under the control of a triple promoter system (as described in WO 99/43835), consisting of the promoters from Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), and the Bacillus thuringiensis cryIIIA promoter including stabilizing sequence. The gene coding for Chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase was used as marker (described in eg. Diderichsen, B.; Poulsen, G. B.; Joergensen, S. T.; A useful cloning vector for Bacillus subtilis. Plasmid 30:312 (1993)).

Chloramphenicol resistant transformants were checked for protease activity and a transformant selected for sequence verification as described in Example 1, following which it was fermented as also described in Example 1, but at 26° C. for 6 days.

The culture broth was centrifuged (20000×g, 20 min) and the supernatants were carefully decanted from the precipitates. The combined supernatants were filtered through a Seitz EKS plate in order to remove the rest of the Bacillus host cells. The EKS filtrate was transferred to 50 mM H₃BO₃, 5 mM succinic acid, 1 mM CaCl₂, pH 7 on a G25 sephadex column. Solid ammonium sulfate was added to the enzyme solution from the G25 sephadex column to give a 1.6 M final (NH₄)₂SO₄ concentration in the enzyme solution. The enzyme solution was mixed gently with a magnetic stirrer during the (NH₄)₂SO₄ addition and the stirring was continued for 30 minutes after the addition to bring the system in equilibrium. Then the enzyme solution was applied to a Butyl Toyopearl column equilibrated in 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM succinic acid, 2 mM CaCl₂, 1.6 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, pH 7. After washing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer, the protease was eluted with a linear (NH₄)₂SO₄ gradient (1.6 to 0 M) in the same buffer. Protease containing fractions were pooled and transferred to 20 mM HEPES, pH 8 on a G25 sephadex column and applied to a Q sepharose FF column equilibrated in the same buffer. After washing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer, the protease was eluted with a linear NaCl gradient (0 to 0.5 M) in the same buffer. Fractions from the column were analysed for protease activity (using the Suc-MPF-pNA assay at pH 9) and active fractions were further analysed by SDS-PAGE. Fractions with only one band (as judged by a coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel) were pooled to provide the purified preparation which was used for further characterization.

The L1a protease is an alpha-lytic protease like enzyme (peptidase family S1E, old notation S2A) which is found to be inhibited by Phenyl Methyl Sulfonyl Fluoride (PMSF), and by the Streptomyces Subtilisin Inhibitor (SSI). Its relative molecular weight as determined by SDS-PAGE is M_(r)=22 kDa.

The specific activity of the L1a protease was determined as described in Example 3 to 49.8 AU/g.

Example 5 Monogastric in Vitro Results

The performance of the purified protease described in Example 2 was tested in an in vitro model simulating the digestion in monogastric animals. In particular, the protease was tested for its ability to improve solubilisation and digestion of maize/-SBM (maize/-soybean meal) proteins. The in vitro system consisted of 10 flasks in which maize/-SBM substrate was initially incubated with HCl/pepsin—simulating gastric digestion—and subsequently with pancreatin—simulating intestinal digestion. Five of the flasks were dosed with the protease at the start of the gastric phase whereas the remaining five flasks served as blanks. At the end of the intestinal incubation phase samples of in vitro digesta were removed and analysed for solubilised and digested protein. Outline of in vitro digestion procedure Simulated Components Time digestion added pH Temperature course phase 10 g maize/-SBM substrate 3.0 40° C. t = 0 min Mixing (6:4), 41 ml HCl (0.105 M) 5 ml HCl (0.105 M)/pepsin 3.0 40° C. t = 30 min Gastric (3000 U/g substrate), 1 ml digestion protease (to provide 100 mg protease enzyme protein per kg of substrate) 16 ml H₂O 3.0 40° C. t = 1.0 hour Gastric digestion 7 ml NaOH (0.39 M) 6.8 40° C. t = 1.5 hours Intestinal digestion 5 ml NaHCO₃ (1 M)/ 6.8 40° C. t = 2.0 hours Intestinal pancreatin (8 mg/g diet) digestion Terminate incubation 7.0 40° C. t = 6.0 hours Conditions

-   Substrate: 4 g SBM, 6 g maize (premixed) -   pH: 3.0 stomach step/6.8-7.0 intestinal step -   HCl: 0.105 M for 1.5 hours (i.e. 30 min HCl-substrate premixing) -   pepsin: 3000 U/g diet for 1 hour -   pancreatin: 8 mg/g diet for 4 hours -   temperature: 40° C. -   Replicates: n     Solutions -   0.39 M NaOH -   0.105 M HCl -   0.105 M HCl containing 6000 U pepsin per 5 ml -   1 M NaHCO₃ containing 16 mg pancreatin per ml -   125 mM NaAc-buffer, pH 6.0

The amount of protease enzyme protein (EP) is calculated on the basis of the A₂₈₀ values and the amino acid sequences (amino acid compositions) using the principles outlined in S. C. Gill & P. H. von Hippel, Analytical Biochemistry 182, 319-326 (1989). The experimental procedure was according to the above outline. pH was measured at time 1, 2.5, and 5.5 hours. Incubations were terminated after 6 hours and samples of 30 ml were removed and placed on ice before centrifugation (10000×g, 10 min, 4° C.). Supernatants were removed and stored at −20° C.

All samples were analysed for content of solubilised and digested protein using gel filtration, and for degree of hydrolysis (DH) with the OPA method.

DH Determination by the OPA-Method

The Degree of Hydrolysis of protein in different samples was determined using an semi-automated microtiter plate based colorimetric method (Nielsen, P. M.; Petersen, D.; Dambmann, C. Improved method for determining food protein degree of hydrolysis. J. Food Sci. 2001, 66, 642-646). The OPA reagent was prepared as follows: 7.620 g di-Na tetraborate decahydrate and 200 mg sodiumdodecyl sulphate (SDS) were dissolved in 150 ml deionized water. The reagents were completely dissolved before continuing. 160 mg o-phthal-dialdehyde 97% (OPA) was dissolved in 4 ml ethanol. The OPA solution was transferred quantitatively to the above-mentioned solution by rinsing with deionized water. 176 mg dithiothreitol 99% (DTT) was added to the solution that was made up to 200 ml with deionized water. A serine standard (0.9516 meqv/l) was prepared by solubilising 50 mg serine (Merck, Germany) in 500 ml deionized water.

The sample solution was prepared by diluting each sample to an absorbance (280 nm) of about 0.5. Generally, supernatants were diluted (100×) using an automated Tecan dilution station (Männedorf, Switzerland). All other spectrophotometer readings were performed at 340 nm using deionized water as the control. 25 microliters of sample, standard and blind was dispensed into a microtiter plate. The micro-titer plate was inserted into an iEMS MF reader (Labsystems, Finland) and 200 microliters of OPA reagent was automatically dispensed. Plates were shaken (2 min; 700 rpm) before measuring absorbance. Finally, the DH was calculated. Fivefold determination of all samples was carried out.

Estimation of Solubilised and Digested Protein

The content of solubilised protein in supernatants from in vitro digested samples was estimated by quantifying crude protein (CP) using gel filtration HPLC. Supernatants were thawed, filtered through 0.45 micro-m polycarbonate filters and diluted (1:50, v/v) with H₂O . Diluted samples were chromatographed by HPLC using a Superdex Peptide PE (7.5×300 mm) gel filtration column (Global). The eluent used for isocratic elution was 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 150 mM NaCl. The total volume of eluent per run was 26 ml and the flow rate was 0.4 ml/min. Elution profiles were recorded at 214 nm and the total area under the profiles was determined by integration. To estimate protein content from integrated areas, a calibration curve (R²=0.9993) was made from a dilution series of an in vitro digested reference maize/-SBM sample with known total protein content. The protein determination in this reference sample was carried out using the Kjeldahl method (determination of % nitrogen; A.O.A.C. (1984) Official Methods of Analysis 14th ed., Washington D.C.).

The content of digested protein was estimated by integrating the chromatogram area corresponding to peptides and amino acids having a molecular mass of 1500 Dalton or below (Savoie, L.; Gauthier, S. F. Dialysis Cell For The In-vitro Measurement Of Protein Digestibility. J. Food Sci. 1986, 51, 494-498; Babinszky,L.; Van, D. M. J. M.; Boer, H.; Den, H. L. A. An In-vitro Method for Prediction of The Digestible Crude Protein Content in Pig Feeds. J. Sci. Food Agr. 1990, 50, 173-178; Boisen, S.; Eggum, B. O. Critical Evaluation of In-vitro Methods for Estimating Digestibility in-Simple-Stomach Animals. Nutrition Research Reviews 1991, 4, 141-162). To determine the 1500 Dalton dividing line, the gel filtration column was calibrated using cytochrome C (Boehringer, Germany), aprotinin, gastrin 1, and substance P (Sigma Aldrich, USA), as molecular mass standards.

The results shown in Tables 4 and 5 below indicate that the protease significantly increased the level of digestible protein, as well as the degree of hydrolysis, both relative to the blank. TABLE 4 Degree of Hydrolysis (DH) Enzyme (dosage Relative to blank in mg EP/kg feed) n % DH % CV Blank 5 100.0 ^(a) 2.05 Protease of Example 2 5 104.8 ^(b) 1.57

Different letters within the same column indicate significant differences (1-way ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer test, P<0.05). SD=Standard Deviation. % CV=Coefficient of Variance=(SD/mean value)×100% TABLE 5 Solubilised and digested crude protein Relative to blank Enzyme N % digestible CP CV % % soluble CP CV % Blank 5 100.0 ^(a) 2.3 100.0 ^(a) 2.4 Protease of 5 104.7 ^(b) 0.7 101.8 ^(a) 0.5 Example 2 Different letters within the same column indicate significant differences (1-way ANOVA, Tukey-Kramer test, P<0.05). SD=Standard Deviation. % CV=Coefficient of Variance=(SD/mean value)×100%

Example 6 Animal Feed and Animal Feed Additives

An animal feed additive comprising the protease prepared as desribed in Example 2, the feed additive being in the form of a vitamins and mineral premix, is composed as shown in Table 6 below. The vitamins and the carotenoids are commercially available from DSM Nutritional Products. All amounts are in g/kg. TABLE 6 Premix composition Vitamin A ROVIMIX A 500 4.00 Vitamin D3 ROVIMIX D3 500 1.00 Vitamin E ROVIMIX E 50 Ads 8.00 Vitamin B2 ROVIMIX B2 80-SD 1.0 CAROPHYLL Yellow 10.0 Choline chloride 50%, min. 300.0 Minerals Mn Oxide 60.0 Zn Oxide 12.0 Fe Sulphate monohydrate 20.0 Cu Oxide 2.0 Co Sulphate 0.2 Enzyme Protease of Example 2 10.0 Wheat middlings 571.8

The Premix of Table 6 is included in a diet for layers with a composition as shown in Table 7 below. The amount of each ingredient is indicated in % (w/w). The concentration in the 5 diet of the L2a protease is 100 mg protease enzyme protein per kg of the diet. TABLE 7 Diet for layers Maize 55.00 Wheat 10.00 Oat 7.50 Soya 20.00 Limestone 7.50 Premix of Table 6 1.00 

1. An isolated polypeptide having protease activity, and having a specific activity on haemoglobin at pH 7.5 and 25° C. of at least 39 AU/g, wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or to amino acids 1-192 of SEQ ID NO: 6 of at least 65%; (b) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which hybridizes under low stringency conditions with nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (c) a polypeptide which is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence which has a degree of identity to nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, of at least 74%:
 2. An animal feed additive comprising at least one polypeptide as defined in claim 1; and (a) at least one fat-soluble vitamin, and/or (b) at least one water-soluble vitamin, and/or (c) at least one trace mineral.
 3. An animal feed composition having a crude protein content of 50 to 800 g/kg and comprising a polypeptide of claim
 1. 4. An animal feed composition having a crude protein content of 50 to 800 g/kg and a feed additive of claim
 2. 5. A composition comprising a polypeptide of claim 1, together with at least one other enzyme selected from amongst amylase, phytase, xylanase, galactanase, alpha-galactosidase, protease, phospholipase, and/or beta-glucanase.
 6. A detergent composition comprising a polypeptide of claim 1 and a surfactant.
 7. An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes the polypeptide of claim
 1. 8. An isolated nucleic acid sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence which encodes a polypeptide having protease activity and a specific activity on haemoglobin at pH 7.5 and 25° C. of at least 39 AU/g, wherein the nucleic acid sequence (a) hybridizes under low stringency conditions with any one of nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (b) has a degree of identity to any one of nucleotides 502-1065 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and/or nucleotides 568-1143 of SEQ ID NO: 5, of at least 74%; and/or (c) encodes a polypeptide which has a degree of identity to amino acids 1 to 188 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and/or to amino acids 1-192 of SEQ ID NO: 6 of at least 65%.
 9. A nucleic acid construct comprising the nucleic acid sequence of claim 7 operably linked to one or more control sequences that direct the production of the polypeptide in a suitable expression host.
 10. A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid construct of claim
 9. 11. A recombinant host cell comprising the nucleic acid construct of claim 9
 12. A method for producing a polypeptide, comprising (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell of claim 11 to produce a supernatant comprising the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.
 13. A transgenic plant, or plant part, capable of expressing the polypeptide of claim
 1. 14. A transgenic, non-human animal, or products, or elements thereof, being capable of expressing the polypeptide of claim
 1. 15. A method for producing a polypeptide of claim 1, the method comprising (a) cultivating any one of the following strains: (i) Nocardiopsis dassonvillei subsp. dassonvillei DSM 43235; (ii) Nocardiopsis alba DSM 15647; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.
 16. A method for improving the nutritional value of an animal feed, for increasing digestible and/or soluble protein in animal diets, or for increasing the degree of hydrolysis of proteins, comprising adding a polypeptide of claim
 1. 17. Nocardiopsis alba DSM
 15647. 